By now the entire world is aware. Well, likely not the entire world, but at least the entire portion of the world that would have given two-shits insofar as they are already connected through industrialized technological communicative media. In order to move this along, I'll assume you are not aware even though you already are. 'Aware of what?', we'll pretend that you asked.
While it is unfortunate that anyone dies, it's not surprising. That's part of being human. It is also saddening when death occurs because of the way it impacts friendships and communities. We are relational creatures and form attachments to one another based on how we identify ourselves and others within those relationships. It is because of these inevitable relationships, that we often witness others using the words or deeds of the recently departed as testimonies to the worthiness of the life they lived. The very recent passing of Steve Jobs is no different. People have flocked to the technological resources and resultant social networks he helped to facilitate in order to express their opinions and feelings on the matter. This is not unexpected. One could argue that although I am not on the 'fandom' side of the Apple user-base, I am doing the same thing even now. Anyone who knows me and my penchant for opining on everything, would not find this unexpected either.
What I do find unexpected and alarming, is the language being used and (at least one of) the quotes that are being held up as testimonies to Steve Jobs' 'so-called' greatness. Many other industry leaders have praised Jobs for his inspirational qualities, for revolutionizing the way we live, for making the world a better place, and so and and so forth. Someone I am acquainted with in real life posted the following quote from Jobs.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs (since I'm a big nerd, I had to track down that this quote is taken from his commencement address to Stanford in 2005)
Whenever I encounter 'bumper sticker' statements like this, I cannot help but react. Society is inundated with statements of this nature. Statements like these are supposedly inspirational, revitalizing, empowering, clarifying, or whatever else you want to call them. I call them crap. Since this personal acquaintance is also a relatively committed member of my home church, and since they have a spouse who is currently a seminary student striving to become a ordained minister, I thought it best (though in hindset, impetuous) to respond from my systematic theological background. I quote from my own facebook comment to the posting of this quotation. "Oh [sic] behalf of systematic theologians everywhere, i would like to dislike this. dogma is not just antiquated philosophical drivel. my inner voice is in bondage to sin and cannot free itself. my intuition has led me astray in every instance thusfar. this man is no mahatma ghandi, martin luther, or jesus christ. he. ran. a. company. #makingEnemiesTonight #badPerson" (apologies for my inability to link directly to the post or this comment, they have since been deleted by the aforementioned acquaintance.) The response from my associate turned the conversation in a direction wherein Jobs was defended and praised for creating, stimulating, and developing the technological and artistic industry through the creations of his company. She tried defending his praiseworthiness by saying that much of the world's progress, which I and other members of first-world nations enjoy, was due to his praiseworthy attributes of inspiration, creativity, and so on...
I do not find this to be a good thing. Yes, I own an ipod. Yes, I enjoy the frivolous comforts of modern technology. Yes, I realize that it takes creativity and hard work to cause the creation of these technological pleasantries. However, just because someone worked hard to make something that we can enjoy, does not mean that we can or should derive hope from these things. Nor does it mean that our hope or identity is provided by their so-called 'freeing' nature. It absolutely doesn't mean that the person (or more realistically, people) involved in the creation of the things we enjoy is inspirational or revolutionary or someone who improves the world we live in. These so-called 'freeing' or 'beneficial' results we cling to are false. However shiny or entertaining or new or remarkable these products may be, they are idols. However enterprising or creative the makers of these products may be, they are not making the world a better place. These are not philanthropic efforts, they are capitalistic commerical products.
Steve. Jobs. Ran. A. Company.
He did not die for your sins. He did not rally millions against racial injustice. He did not serve the needs of the poor. He did not advocate for the voiceless or the oppressed.
He developed products in order to make money.
It was at this point where someone else attempted to converse with me on this matter. Instead of doing so by talking about the theological issues at hand, he did so by accusing me of having worldviews and 'churchviews' that I simply do not have. His understanding of my views of what the church is or what the church does reflect a complete disconnect from who I am or what I believe. It was hurtful. While I do not think his statements were intended as such, they were made in that sort of religious passive-aggressive manner that just makes you feel icky. Like when someone who you know doesn't think highly of you tells you 'God Bless You.' .... when you need a shower after they say something ... it was kinda like that.
I recognized the communicative disconnect at this point and wrote a rather lengthy (IMAGINE THAT! :P) retort in an effort to clarify matters. It was not responded to and then the whole 'thread' was deleted. I will attempt to reiterate its contents here.
Note: This is the gist of what I've been thinking/trying to say on the Steve Jobs matter (not just in the event of his passing, but for throughout most of the iProductCraze
When people throw out adjectives and other such praise for Steve Jobs, they are using language that is filled with adoration and reeks of worship. This is not disconcerting when encountered in the largely secular sphere, for who expects CNN to be mindful of the religious connotations of certain words. But when we find it amidst members of the religious community, it is particularly troublesome. Some quick examples: The Jobs' family has called him 'a visionary.' Our president has echoed this sentiment and stated that "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it." Obama also says that "[Jobs] changed the way each of us sees the world." Google CEO Larry Page said, "He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it." [http://gizmodo.com/5847151/reactions-to-steve-jobs-death] Although these are but a few of the reactions and come from industry leaders, rather than ordinary citizens, they too reflect the praise and admiration showered on the memory of Steve Jobs. Furthermore, although I understand that the reactions quoted above do not come from religious leaders or communities, they are united with many of those sentiments I have read from my religious friends insofar as they speak of identifying the worth of a person by what they do or what they make. Our culture loves to send the message that it is what you do that defines you (thanks so much Batman Begins :P). When we meet someone, we ask where they work. If you're a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon you're viewed with more esteem than a janitor, farmer, or teacher. This is likely what grinds my gears the most, particularly because I currently find myself unemployed. My point in all this is that the deeds and works which are being praised particularly in the case of Steve Jobs' passing, are not what constitute the worthiness of a human being as God's creation. They are not in reference to works of philanthropy (which, although my research of Jobs' philanthropy is remedial thusfar, doesn't seem to be much at all). They are not in reference to imago dei (you saw that coming didn't you). They are in praise of technological developments and the human spirit.
History already had this period of misguided adoration. It was the enlightenment.
Christians, especially Lutherans, do not praise virtues ... we praise fruits of the Spirit and the one Lord through Christ who gives these unto all people.
In defensive response to those hurtful statements by a fellow colleague, my assertions on this matter are not of my selfish egoism seeking to reform the church into my own image, as if a) I had any legitimate standing to do so, b) the church would welcome reform, c) we were even talking about matters contained within 'churchly or right-hand' kingdom. If you think my vision of the church is oppressive, you obviously know very little of what I consider the church to be.
Jobs might have been a nice person, or a brilliant technological developer, or savvy company leader, but he is by no means deserving of the 'inspirational' labels of glory that we keep ascribing to him.
Furthermore, this figurehead-esque appreciation of Jobs is ridiculous. He may have been the CEO of Apple. Apple may have put out technological products we might use and enjoy. But he himself did not sit down and program every line of code in every Apple product. He did not craft the circuitry or the sleak design of every single ipod or accessory we love so much. These products were the result of numerous (wo)man-hours. There is a massive human infrastructure involved in nearly every project. He lead them yes, and good for him. He may have been a nice guy or a good manager, but let's not equate the guy with Willy Wonka and forget about unrecognized Oompa Loompas (regardless of how incompetent they happen to be when we come across them in the Apple store or at the Starbucks).
So the guy died of cancer. That's tragic and many people suffer and die from cancer and other diseases everyday. So the guy was the figurehead at every damn iProduct #+1 announcement. Yay, some people like their shiny iProducts. Ultimately this guy didn't change the world. He developed the industries and pleasantries that the richer 2% of the planet enjoys when they need distraction from the lived reality of others. To revere, mourn, and discuss his life and work as if he were the second coming was ridiculous and idolatrous when each product was launched and it's equally so now that he has departed this mortal coil.
