Jacques Ellul and the Prophecy of the Technological Challenge

Introduction: The Prophet of the Technical Age

Jacques Ellul, French theologian and sociologist, is recognized worldwide for his critical analysis of modern technology, which he calls “technique” — an autonomous and impersonal system that shapes contemporary social, political, and spiritual relations. For Ellul, technique does not refer only to machines, but encompasses the entire set of rationalized methods that seek total efficiency, becoming a dominant and almost sacred force in modern society (Ellul, 1954).

The Autonomy of Technique: Prophetic Diagnosis

His prophetic vision lies in the diagnosis that the autonomy of technique threatens individual freedom, empties human values, and transforms human beings into mere components of a system without transcendence. In works like “The Technological Society,” Ellul highlights that the relentless pursuit of efficiency comes to determine all aspects of social life, promoting standardization and the loss of autonomy (Dunham, 2002).

The Universal Cult of Technique

He argues that both capitalist and socialist societies converge in this cult of technique, replacing traditional symbols of meaning — such as God, nature, or community itself — with a new sacred: technique (Son, 2004; Ellul, 1973). This convergence reveals the totalitarian nature of modern technique, which transcends specific political ideologies.

The Secular Religion of Efficiency

The prophetic aspect of Ellul lies in exposing not only the power of technique, but also its capacity to justify itself, creating a “secular religion” that shapes human desires, practices, and hopes (Kibbe, 2025). This “technological idolatry” creates a false sense of progress — in Ellul’s memorable words:

“Technological progress is real, but it is not true” (Dunham, 2002, p. XIV).

The Illusion of Progress

This fundamental distinction between the “real” and the “true” reveals the depth of Ellulian critique. Technique can produce measurable and efficient results, but fails to offer authentic meaning and transcendent purpose to human existence.

The Theological Response: Christ versus Technique

For Ellul, only a critical theological perspective — grounded in Christian faith and the freedom of the Gospel — is capable of discerning and resisting the dangers of this dynamic. His theology is not escapist, but deeply engaged with contemporary reality.

Babylon versus Jerusalem

In his theology, Ellul points to the confrontation between the biblical city of Babylon (symbol of the self-sufficient power of technique) and Jerusalem (symbol of Christian hope and freedom in Christ) (Dunham, 2002). This tension runs through all human experience in the technical age.

The prophetic limit lies in the proclamation: true hope is not in technique, but in the person of Jesus Christ, who subverts the empire of efficiency and offers meaning and freedom beyond technological promises (Ellul, 1987; Kibbe, 2025).

Authentic Resistance

Beyond Hostility and Nostalgia

The originality of Ellulian prophecy consists in uniting socio-critical analysis, philosophical consistency, and theological hope, challenging Christians and thinkers to resist not through hostility or nostalgia, but through the recovery of genuine human meanings and practices, rooted in the transcendence of the living God.

This resistance is not merely reactive, but creative — seeking authentic alternatives that preserve human dignity and openness to the transcendent.

Contemporary Relevance

The Fulfilled Prophecy

Decades after his major works, Ellul’s predictions about the autonomization of technique seem more relevant than ever. The era of artificial intelligence, total automation, and digital surveillance confirms his insights about the totalizing character of modern technique.

The Current Challenge

The challenge for contemporary Christians and thinkers remains the same identified by Ellul: how to preserve human freedom and openness to the transcendent in a world increasingly dominated by the logic of technical efficiency?

Conclusion: Hope Beyond Technique

Jacques Ellul’s prophecy is not pessimistic, but realistic and hopeful. He invites us to recognize the limits of technique and to rediscover authentic sources of meaning and freedom. His message remains an urgent call for a creative resistance that honors both human dignity and divine sovereignty.

In a world seduced by the promises of technique, Ellul reminds us that true salvation does not come from efficiency, but from grace; not from technical autonomy, but from freedom in Christ.

References

Dunham, P. L. (2002). The meaning of technology: A theology of technique in Jacques Ellul [Doctoral Dissertation, West Virginia University]. Research Repository at WVU.

Ellul, J. (1954). La technique ou l’enjeu du siècle. Paris: Armand Colin.

Ellul, J. (1973). Le nouvel ordre technicien. Paris: Seuil.

Ellul, J. (1987). The Subversion of Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Kibbe, B. (2025, January 20). Apocalyptic reading in a technological world: why we need Jacques Ellul today? Cruciforme.

Son, W. C. (2004). Reading Jacques Ellul’s The Technological Bluff in Context. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 24(6), 491–498.