austraLasia #1903
Digital
Virtues now available - free
ROME: 15th July
2007 -- Digital Virtues - 'reflections, frameworks and practical
matters for institutes of consecrated life and their members', has been a labour
of love developed over a two year period. It has now been published
initially in a form fully consonant with the principles it espouses - it is an
'open book', issued under a Creative Commons licence, which permits its readers
to take the ideas developed within and adapt or improve upon them. The
only thing a reader does not have permission to do is to make money from
them!
The work is currently available in two formats, one
html, therefore viewable directly online, the other a commercial, print-ready
pdf which could be read online but which is obviously intended for downloading
where it can then be read on-screen or output to paper. Both are available
from Bosconet www.bosconet.aust.com,
under the 'What's New' rubric. In its paper form it runs to 95 pages
including Table of Contents and a complete index.
Digital Virtues is a unique work - and I mean that in the truest sense of
the word. Over this two year period I have scoured all obviously available
resources to see what has been on offer in terms of Church documentation or the
documentation of Religious Congregations by way of reflection on the digital
world, on some of the issues that result from a new and at times invasive
culture. There was not a great deal on offer! Therefore the 'reflections'
parts of this book are indeed unique. You will not find them elsewhere -
except, at least in their initial and provocative form, in a certain letter
written by a certain Superior General: Pascual Chávez, of course (AGC
390). The final chapter, chapter 8, specifically acknowledges this and
indicates how it became the stimulus for these reflections which do not merely
repeat his own but develop them.
If you choose the online
version to begin with, you will find a straightforward navigation process, easy
screen-chunk sections. It would make an excellent 'taster' to find your
way around quickly. If you choose to download the pdf version you will not only
have a typeset potential printout in hand but the additional value of sidebars
which can guide you through your reading.
Though it may
seem strange to be recommending the final chapter, I am doing precisely that, as
a way of noting what the main issues in the book are, and at the same time being
confronted with the same stimuli for reflection that moved the author to
write.
Each chapter concludes with a 'digital to-do list'
directed either to a community (local, provincial, world) or to
individuals. At all times the material is directed to members of
consecrated life - how does the digital world impinge on them, what actions
could they be taking? There is ample reflection for the community level,
indeed there are frameworks in there for reflection by communities. Along
the way no doubt there are challenging statements, and nobody says you have to
agree with them! But you might allow them to pose their questions to you
nonetheless.
If you feel that parts or the whole have been
valuable for you personally or for your community, or indeed if you feel that
you could improve on them, the licence permits you to do the latter, and
courtesy suggests you let me know how you feel. Both ways can help a future
edition be even better. In due course it may find its way into print on a
commercial basis (where the licence will alter a little). That depends on
whether the work fulfils a need. Presentation of several chapters at
meetings of consecrated life around the world have already demonstrated some
need and warm acceptance. austraLasia's readers are another group who now
have the chance to indicate this.
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