Becoming Stewards of Attention: A Theological Appeal

The widespread compromising of attention currently taking place in our digital age is, at least in part, a theological issue necessitating a theological response, which invites an examination of the human person in relation to God. Familiar within the biblical narrative and throughout Christian tradition, I suggest that when the role of steward functions as the operative paradigm for humans, the claims made upon their lives have profound implications for attending within the digital age. More specifically, the steward’s attention becomes a tangible expression of authority and accountability in representation of God’s image to the rest of creation. In pursuit of a faithful representation of God within our digital context, the paradigm of steward orients the human person towards a virtuous moral growth of attention, while placing their attention in a relation of proper fit within reality’s design. Though the concept of attention is often neglected in discussions of Christian stewardship, adopting the steward as an operative paradigm has the potential to guide us in attending to what matters most, even in the face of the challenges and predatory manipulations brought about by our digital technologies