About me

Hi, I’m Stephen Garner and I graduated PhD through the School of Theology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. In early 2008 I will be taking up the position of Lecturer in Practical Theology at the School of Theology.

My thesis research was concerned with the interaction of the Christian doctrine of the imago Dei with emergent digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, particularly within the context of transhumanist thought. Those technologies (and the way in which they are used to generate new metanarratives about human nature and destiny) create narratives of apprehension (anxiety & wonder) about technology. I use the imago Dei as the starting point for the creation of counter-narratives of creativity and novelty that allow for critical, constructive engagement with these technologies and their context.

My research interests include Christian anthropology, the doctrine of creation, eschatology, and the relationships of theology and religion with science, technology and media. I’m also interested in the interaction of spirituality with technology, and social justice issues relating to technology and the environment.

I’ve lectured Theology and Biblical Studies over the past few years at the
Bible College of New Zealand and Carey Baptist College, as well as having been
an educational technologist for BCNZ’s Centre for Distance Learning. Until the end of January 2008 I’m doing some distance systems and resource development for Good Shepherd College.

I’ve also completed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Computer Science at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, as well as doing machine learning research at the University of Waikato in Hamilton.

Somewhere in amongst all that I’ve also worked as Oracle, Informix and SQLServer Database administrators, as a UNIX system admininstrator, a web administrator, a web developer, and a software developer for manufacturing industries.

I read and watch a lot of science fiction (Babylon 5, the new Battlestar Galactica, and Firefly are favourites), as well as historical novels, non-fiction books and documentaries. I also have a soft spot for cooking shows and comic books. In an perfect world I’ll have time to write the definitive paper on the use of traditional eschatologies within the superhero narratives of contemporary comic books.

Most of my life (including now) I’ve been part of the Presbyterian church, with occasional excurses into the Anglican tradition.

During the rugby (union) season you’ll find me supporting the Hurricanes in the Super 14, and the Wellington Lions in the provincial championship. In summer it’s the Wellington Firebirds cricket team. (I bleed black and gold)

I’m married to Kim, and we have four children.

A list of my theology and computer science publications and presentations can be found here.