The Society, Religion and Technology Project - or SRT Project for short - was begun by the
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...
in 1970 to address issues being raised by the impact of modern technology. The project remains run by the Church of Scotland's
Church and Society Council, but now on an ecumenical basis with the active support of
Action of Churches Together in Scotland
Action may refer to:
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video game
Film
* Action film, a genre of film
* ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford
* ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
, the
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland.
A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...
, the
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church (URC) is a Protestant Christian church in the United Kingdom. As of 2022 it has approximately 40,000 members in 1,284 congregations with 334 stipendiary ministers.
Origins and history
The United Reformed Church resulte ...
and the
United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland (UF Church; gd, An Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte, sco, The Unitit Free Kirk o Scotland) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (or UP) and ...
.
The aim was (and is) to ensure that the Church should be well-informed, and to stimulate a balanced debate in public and amongst those working in technological research itself. With the insight of a Christian ethical stance and seeking to be an independent voice free from vested financial or commercial interests, it has published many reports and publications.
Throughout the Project's over 40-year existence it has been led by a series of professional directors with a proven record in a field of science, technology or sociology. The post of Director of the SRT Project was formerly held by Dr Donald Bruce. A new appointment was made in early 2008 of Dr Murdo Macdonald, a molecular biologist with medical research experience in Ethiopia and Nepal. His role in taking the project forward is now designated 'Policy Officer'.
The vision of the SRT Project is:
*To foster an informed understanding in society of the issues which confront it as a result of current and future technologies, and to inform the churches of key developments;
*To provide opportunities for technologists to reflect on the ethical implications of their work;
*To respond with considered judgement to Government bodies on technological issues;
*To contribute actively to European and international debates on these issues.
References
{{reflist
External links
Society, Religion and Technology Project
Church of Scotland
Science and technology in Scotland