Sabbath Manifesto: Slowing Down Live Since 2009

I’m studying John Wesley’s 3 Simple Rules right now: “Do good, Do no harm, stay in love with God.” What you say rings true…perhaps a more ‘natural’ way of life suits us better as humans?

I agree with @sadie – it shows that we have a fear of disconnecting and being in silence with ourselves alone, and also before God. He becomes far closer to us when we turn off the ‘noise’…and that can scare us. I’d say, make the highest priority the one that you want to avoid the most. If you think you’ll just do all 9 principles except this one, none of the others will do you much good.

We have – 2 months ago when we moved house we decided to get rid of the TV and the internet and the landline. It is so peaceful and pleasant.

doesn’t anyone see the irony of complaining about technology via computers just sayin

I don’t necessarily disconnect from my technology when I’m “off” nor do I think it’s necessary to disconnect to be “off”.  That being said, all of my machines work for ME.  I don’t worry about how many miles I put on my car – that’s what I bought it for!  As for my iPod, I’m a musician that unfortunately has a day job.  My iPod IS my escape!  My phone is a convenience for other people, not a leash.  I don’t answer my phone in the john or when I’m eating – EVER.  These are the 2 points in the day that are truly mine and they’ll stay that way.

The point is, remember that these gadgets are here to make our lives easier, not harder.  They’re gadgets, we’re humans.  They’re inanimate.  There’s a hierarchy and we’re (supposedly) at the top.

It’s hard when you work from home as it’s too easy to “do some work for half an hour” at the weekends, my solution though a little drastic was to lock my keyboard, smartphone and iPad in the safe on a Friday evening and give the key to my wife until Monday morning – Yes it hurt for the first couple of weeks but now it’s excellent.

I’m an Orthodox Jew and one thing I can say about doing this the traditional way is, you don’t get pulled back into the weekday.  While a ringng phone might be a loved one calling, it might also be a telelmarketer or a political pollster or some other unwanted intrusion. Driving your car jerks you back into the weekday frustrations of traffic and other people’s road rage.  And so forth.  So I chose to just turn the phone off, shut the computers down, and not play with electronic gadgets.  Anyway, you might be interested in a couple articles I wrote on this topic on my blog at “Notes from a Jewsih Thoreau”  http://rooster613.blogspot.com — just scroll down the right sidebar to the topics list and click “unplugging” to find them.  Enjoy!

I agree with you that the issue is not directly about disconnecting from technology but from all things mundane so we can get closer to our families, friends, communities and yes to G-d. We are supposed to re-connect with our values and take the opportunity to increase our learning and reflection so we become better and more enriched. Otherwise it’s only about rest and relaxation. These things are important to our our well being but do not make us better human beings.

Desplugue tudo agora !
Aproveite e desligue sua sogra tambem.  🙂

Gonna call everyone in my contacts list March 1-2 just to make sure they are avoiding technology!

I agree with you guys completely on the whole aspect of having everyone in the nation, even the world if possible, follow these ten steps in their everyday lives(religious or not) but Major_Ray, What the fuck does Atheistic science and their opinion on our origins have to do with this manifesto? and to be honest atheistic science has developed and research majority of the things that help us in life, I myself am a undergraduate and study General science, physics and biology. so please think next time before being an utter tit and thinking

I think the cycle of time has always had a strong pull on the human psyche. A lot of us work 5 days a week and it’s a struggle just to get through the work week. The question of interest is always, ‘what’s happening this weekend?’ And how many weekends are squandered in running around, shopping, ‘watching’ TV for hours without enjoying it, etc. I’m not Jewish, but I think the practice of keeping sunset on Friday a special time of lighting candles, sharing wine, challah and prayers is the perfect way to be mindful of what is of value in our lives (family, love, faith) so that we can use our free time wisely to invest in those areas. (It also motivates me to get household chores done before the weekend rolls around so that time can really be enjoyed.) If you can live everyday mindfully that is a wonderful practice! I think a weekly check with reality is good for those of us who struggle with balance in this busy world.

Yes!

What’s “technology”, exactly? I’m willing to guess that everyone’s thinking in terms of smartphones, tablets and computers. But isn’t technology also radios and televisions? Alarm clocks? Kitchen appliances?

This is what I do– unplug from the internet so I’m not tempted by Facebook, pinterest, mobile games…but I can still use my tablet to read, write and draw. Maybe this contradicts the idea a bit (really I should start writing and drawing but hand again) but…baby steps!

We atheists are just as good at disconnecting from technology and connecting with nature. I’d argue even better than a whole heck of a lot of Christians. Having been raised in the church and a political junkie I know whereof I speak.