Gen Tech
Advance Praise for
GenTech and Dr. Rick Chromey
In GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are , Rick Chromey does far more than remap generational categories bequeathed to us by conventional theorists. He gives us a new way to think about generational identity as a whole, demonstrating the shaping influence of technology on age-related cohorts. He rightly argues that generational identity and personality are guided as much by the technologies we use as by key historical events. The book is poignantly insightful and richly illustrativea must-read for those who wish to deepen their understanding of our time and place in history.
Dr. Charles J. Conniry , Jr., Vice President of Academic Affairs, Western Seminary
The generational labels provided in many books and articles have always confused me. Rick Chromeys more dynamic view of generations makes much more sense to me and better explains who I am, how I see the world, how I communicate, and, more significantly, how all of us relate to others from different technological generations. GenTech is especially valuable for leaders of churches, groups, ministries, and businesses.
Michael C. Mack , Author, Christian Standard editor, and founder of SmallGroupLeadership.com.
Whether youre a technology nerd or wizard, this intriguing book will help you connect the digital dots. Youll see how technology is profoundly shaping our cultureand you, like it or not. Plus youll discover how technology affects each generation differently, for better or worse.
Thom Schultz , Founder and president, Group Publishing, Author, Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore and Filmmaker, When God Left the Building
GenTech presents a fresh way to define the different generations and the major influences that have framed their personalities. Dr. Chromey identifies the various technological changes that have shaped the generations and shows why overlap and fluidity is important to truly understanding who they are. It is well documented and filled with personal stories that will engage the reader.
Dr. Gary B. Zustiak , Director of Counseling and Pastoral Care for Ozark Christian College.
Rick Chromey is a gifted writer and communicator! His study of generations and how they interact with the culture of today and societal change is quite interesting. He writes with passion, deep study and humor.
Sherri Uhrig , Childrens Ministry Director (North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist)
Gen Tech
An American Story of Technology,
Change and Who We Really Are
(1900-present)
Dr. Rick Chromey
NEW YORK
LONDONNASHVILLEMELBOURNEVANCOUVER
Gen Tech
An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are (1900-present)
2020 Dr. Rick Chromey
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-64279-671-1 paperback
ISBN 978-1-64279-672-8 eBook
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019907495
Cover Design by:
Christopher Kirk
GFSstudio.com
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Dedicated to my grandchildren, the future generation:
Logan, Dallas, Aliyah, Scottlyn, Lucy, Caroline
Foreword
Gods truth endures from generation to generation
Psalm 100:5
The Seventh Generation Rule is a philosophy of life that factors the impact of every decision and deed as far as seven generations into the future.
Seven Generations is a principle most often associated with the Iroquois Nation, who first codified the concept in its constitution as a confederacy. But the philosophy of integrating future generations into ones deliberations, and to seeing oneself as the benefactor of previous generations labors, is common to many indigenous tribes and cultures, not just in the U.S. but around the world.
In this work, Rick Chromey not only encourages us to ponder the truth that endures from generation to generation, but ultimately explores a digital generation (GenTech) which, for the first time in history, routinely exists side-by-side five other generations, soon to expand to six and even seven. For the first time in history we are living simultaneously with what our ancestors could only conceive of sequentially from a three generation, Abraham-Isaac-Jacob biblical perspectivethe kind Marilynne Robinson explored in such riveting fashion in her Pulitzer Prize winning novel Gilead (2004), or that Nature Valley portrayed in its commercial called Rediscover Nature.
The Nature Valley energy snack company talked to three generations and asked them one simple question: What did you like to do for fun as a kid? The oldest generation gave answers like gardening and fishing. The middle generation gave answers like playing hide and seek and building forts and tree houses with neighborhood kids. The youngest generation gave answers that talked about video games, watching YouTube, and texting on cell phones. One young girl even said she would die without her tablet.
I call the GenTech digital generations (also known as Gen Z and Gen Alpha in some circles), the 22nd century generations (22C). From an actuarial standpoint they are likely to live well into the 22nd century. Think what it was like to have no memory of life before books. These generations will have no memory of life before the Internet. They are the first generations of a New Eranot an era of change, but a change of era. What makes this book so valuable is Chromeys probing analysis of the role of technology (increasingly the GRAIN technology of Genetic engineering, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Infotech, and Nanotechnology) in the shaping of generations, and his masterful guidance on how to bring fresh understanding and bold undertakings to these change-of-era 22C generations.
Every generation loses the messiah it has failed to deserve.
Key plank in the Hasidic theory of the Tzaddik Ha-Dor
If history is any guide, the insights of one generation cannot be passed on to the next; they can only be explored and earned by each generation. Each generation discovers for itself and thinks its the one who first invented it. Besides technology, what has shaped all generations, and ties all the generations together, are Story Dynasties. Five bodies of lore have galvanized us and gathered us together: Star Wars (11 films), Harry Potter (7 story arcs), Games of Thrones (8 seasons, 71 episodes), Lord of the Rings (6 books), Marvel Universe (22 story arcs).
Dr. Rick Chromey is someone who brailles the culture for new trends and movements with savvy and skill. He has now written a book that is a story of America and her generationsa narrative for the emerging 22C generations. Its a story of change and challenge, if only we will listen, and apply the Seventh Generation Rule.
