The Quiet Submission: A Reflection on Technology and Our Humanity
By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
For as long as we can remember, technology has been painted as the key to our freedom. We’ve been told it would lighten our burdens, open doors to new possibilities, and bring us closer to one another. Yet, standing on the precipice of a future where humans and machines are merging at a pace unimaginable decades ago, it’s time to ask a difficult question: What if all this talk of liberation has been a carefully constructed narrative? What if, beneath the promises, there lies an agenda one designed not to free us, but to slowly bind us?
As we begin to integrate artificial intelligence, neurological enhancements, and mechanical alterations into the very fabric of our bodies and minds, we are told this is evolution. We’re told that blending human consciousness with machines will help us surpass our limitations, stretch our lifespan, and redefine what it means to be alive. It’s a seductive idea who wouldn’t want to be stronger, smarter, or more capable? But the real question is, at what cost? And who benefits when we hand over parts of our humanity to this new reality?
The deeper we dive into this technological abyss, the more we seem to lose touch with what makes us human. What once served us as tools now shapes us, molds us in ways that are subtle but profound. We adapt our behavior, our desires, even our thoughts to fit into the algorithms and systems that dictate much of our lives. It’s as if we’re being gently steered not towards freedom, but towards submission. And this submission is gradual, almost imperceptible, until one day we wake up and find we’ve lost a piece of ourselves.
In this brave new world, we are slowly becoming something less human, more mechanical. Technology, which once seemed to serve us, is now becoming an essential part of who we are. We rely on it to such an extent that without it, we feel lost, disconnected, incapable. The more we intertwine our existence with machines, the more distant we become from the essence of what makes us human our souls, our spirit, our connection with the divine.
It’s as if we are intoxicated, not by wine or worldly pleasures, but by the allure of technology itself. We are drunk on the speed, the efficiency, the endless stream of stimulation it provides. It’s a kind of digital intoxication that leaves us craving more but always feeling empty. Our phones, our screens, our gadgets they feed us constantly, but they do not nourish our souls. In fact, they do the opposite they numb us to the deeper truths within.
The distractions don’t end with our phones. Social media has become a place where we constantly compare ourselves to others, while reality TV feeds us shallow narratives that distance us from real human experiences. These forms of entertainment, along with the low-frequency tones that fill the background of our daily lives, do not uplift or elevate our minds they pull us further away from who we are meant to be. It’s critical that we recognize when to step away, take breaks, and allow ourselves to reconnect with something deeper. Taking time away from these influences social media, reality TV, and even the endless noise gives us the space to breathe, to think, and to reconnect with our souls.
What’s particularly troubling is that we’re drifting further away from the Creator. The constant barrage of information and distraction has dulled our senses to the still, small voice within us. We no longer hear the call of our own souls, the yearning for connection with something greater than ourselves. Instead, we are caught up in a cycle of instant gratification, where our desires are satisfied by the next notification, the next post, the next hit of dopamine.
We’re becoming distant not only from each other but from ourselves. Technology has given us the illusion of being connected yet we are more isolated than ever. We communicate through screens, but we don’t really talk. We share our lives online, but we don’t truly share. We consume endless streams of content, but we rarely reflect. In the process, we are losing touch with our deeper selves, the part of us that longs for peace, meaning, and connection to the divine.
I’ve been there myself caught in the web of constant stimulation, always reaching for the next piece of information, the next distraction. There was a time when I was so wrapped up in the digital world that I couldn’t hear my own thoughts, let alone the whisper of the Creator. It wasn’t until I stepped away from the screens, from the noise, that I could reconnect with the quiet, sacred space within me. It was there, in the stillness, that I rediscovered my soul. And it was there that I found the Creator waiting, patiently, as always.
What if all of this the endless pursuit of technological advancement, the constant drive for progress has been leading us not towards a higher state of being, but towards a quieter, more controlled submission? What if, rather than liberating us, technology has been slowly enslaving us, not in chains we can see, but in a kind of invisible prison of the mind?
This is not just about losing autonomy it’s about losing our humanity. As we merge more and more with machines, we begin to forget what it means to be human. We forget the power of emotion, the depth of connection, the joy of living a life in harmony with nature and the universe. We trade wisdom for information, spirituality for convenience, and in doing so, we lose sight of the treasures we’ve always had the wisdom of the soul and the connection to the Creator.
We’ve been led to believe that technology is the ultimate tool for empowerment, but it’s becoming clearer that this tool can just as easily be used to control us. The more reliant we become, the more vulnerable we are to manipulation. Our desires, our choices, even our thoughts can be shaped by the unseen forces behind the screens we stare at every day. And once that control is complete, what remains of our individuality, our free will?
As I reflect on this, I can’t help but think of the moments in my own life when I’ve felt truly free. They weren’t moments spent in front of a screen or plugged into a device. They were moments spent in nature, in silence, in prayer. They were moments when I felt a deep connection to the divine, to something greater than myself. That’s where true freedom lies not in the latest gadget or the next technological breakthrough, but in our ability to connect with our souls and the Creator.
We must remain vigilant. We must protect what it means to be human. Our ability to love, to create, to reflect, to feel deeply these are the things that make us who we are. No machine, no algorithm, can ever replicate these gifts. As we move forward into this technological age, let us not forget the sacredness of our humanity. Let us not forget the quiet spaces within us that no technology can touch.
What will we become if we surrender our humanity for convenience? Will we find ourselves in a world where we are no longer human beings, but human machines controlled, monitored, and distanced from the very essence of life?
We stand on the threshold of a future that could either elevate or diminish us. The choice is ours. We can choose to embrace technology while remaining grounded in our spirituality, or we can allow it to swallow us whole, leaving behind the sacred connection to our souls and the Creator. Let’s not lose sight of what truly matters. Let’s hold onto our humanity, even as the world around us becomes more entangled in the web of technology.
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