Why modern technology is the new sacred, and how to reclaim human freedom

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jacques Ellul, a French philosopher and resistance fighter, argued that modern technology has become a totalizing force that demands absolute efficiency. He warned that we have replaced God with the idol of technique, turning ourselves into mere components of a system that prioritizes mechanical logic over human freedom.

Born in 1912, Jacques Ellul was a prolific thinker whose work spanned sociology, theology, and philosophy. A leader in the French resistance during World War II, he was later recognized as Righteous among the Nations for his efforts to save Jews. Throughout his academic career at the University of Bordeaux, he authored over 60 books, most notably The Technological Society. His central thesis was that 'technique'—defined as the totality of rational methods with absolute efficiency—has become the defining force of modern civilization, subordinating the natural world and human conscience to its own mechanical requirements.

Ellul argued that technology is not merely a collection of machines but an autonomous system that dictates its own development. He contended that efficiency has become a necessity, rendering moral considerations irrelevant within the system. Because technique is self-augmenting and universal, he believed that even the moral conversion of individual technicians would fail to change the outcome. Instead of seeking to destroy technology, Ellul proposed that we must change our perception of it, treating it as a tool rather than a regulator of the status quo. By recognizing technique for what it is, he argued, we can destroy the basis of its power over humanity.

As a Christian anarchist, Ellul viewed the nation-state as the primary source of violence and the 'Beast' of Revelation. He advocated for an evolutionary approach to social change through grassroots, federative cooperatives, inspired by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. His theological perspective, heavily influenced by Karl Barth and Søren Kierkegaard, was deeply contrarian. He rejected both liberal theology and orthodox fundamentalism, maintaining a stance of radical freedom. For Ellul, faith was not an escape but an active force, and he famously insisted that the only way to respond to the absolute power of the modern state was with an absolute negative position, rooted in a total rejection of violence.

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