Icewire: writing : cruft : Technofaith 1

Sometimes I wonder why I wake up in the morning. Well, I guess I really couldn't consider 2PM morning, but it is morning enough for me. It is grey outside, but then it always is and I didn't even bother looking out the window to confirm it. Time is quite irrelevant in my line of work. I like it that way and so do most of the other priests.
Priests of the technology- maintainers of technological order and stability so that you can live in oblivious bliss. We make sure the Networks run. We make sure that when things break you don't notice. We make technology something which you do not have to think or worry about. Remember, without us society will fall to its knees and chaos will envelop the world. This is the faith which we have given unto you.
Somewhere along the line we have become more than just janitors. Because, when you get down to it, that is all we are- technological janitors. We are the people that made up the IT staff in your office. We are the ones who consulted to you to fix your computing problems. I don't remember specifically when the change happened. I just feel lucky enough to have been carried along this side of that wave.
The transition was sudden. A silent revolution that happened before you even noticed. And once it was completed, it was too late to turn back. So entrenched was the technology, so vital were its maintainers, that had you tried to turn back things would have gotten ugly. Lazy and reliant the populous had become and we were there to take advantage of it.
That is not to say that the changes that had come were all that bad. Most of you liked the new religion and its control over- over well everything- better than the religions and governments of the past. The Pope was not too pleased, but then you can't please everyone. It is not like we forced him out of a job. But what can you do as a leader of a religion that has no followers? Our faith did not preclude other religions. You could believe in technology as your salvation and still believe in Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu or anyone else if you so chose.
Early on, we had tried to teach you the how's and the what's of the little black boxes. But, deep down, you didn't want to know. You just wanted them to work. Which was fine for us long term. And so we gave up our crusade to educate and transformed ourselves and the little black boxes into mystical shit and acts of faith.
Maybe it is the fear that gives us so much power. It's not the kind of fear that a gun to your head produces or even the kind of fear that being on the edge of a cliff gives. It is the fear that all the little black boxes and all the magic toys will just stop. Our existence holds that fear at bay. Even if your faith in us is somewhat misguided, we are not about to let you think otherwise (if we let you think at all).
The virus infection of your computer is explained as a demonic possession. Your sins and lack of faith allowed this possession to take place. We show up and exorcize your machine give your absolution. You tithe and buy indulgences to show your faith. It really isn't much different from what we did before. Except now there is less paperwork and you don't watch over our shoulder while we work trying to tell us how to do our jobs.
So, I woke up this early in the morning to keep your faith. I woke up to ensure that you are removed from all thoughts and worries. But mostly removed of thoughts- particularly thoughts about how things work and why things break and if you could learn these things yourself. There is no need to muddle yourself with thoughts. Just go on your merry way and keep the faith.
Don't worry about me and my work as a priest. I had this calling. I like what I do and I'm glad that I can serve on this side of Network. I'm glad I'm not like you.