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Preserving our humanity in the Digital Age.

THE INITIATIVE

The Life Calling Initiative responds to our increasing reliance on technology in the Digital Age, and the various challenges this reliance presents to humanity. Our new technological tools may be moving us away from the experience of the natural world. The newly established Life Calling Initiative explores this nexus of new technology and human behavior. Its fundamental mission is to both raise awareness and to develop educational strategies to best avert these dangers.

Life Calling Initiative functions as a not-for-profit organization.

As the tic to the flesh, the digital device to the psyche device. The remedy is a matter of Truth.

JOHN MACK, 2021

VISION

It is the overarching aspiration of the initiative to help members of society live fulfilled lives in the Digital Age while retaining their humanity and personal autonomy. This aspiration is rooted in the awareness that digital devices can do tremendous good and enable progress but should be used as tools under our control—and not the other way around. The ultimate goal is the empowerment of our humanity in this ever-increasing shift toward device dependence.

One of the most pressing conversations of our time is about the threat that the unchecked use of smart-devices poses to our humanity.

JOHN MACK, 2021

MISSION

In order to achieve this Vision it is necessary to alert society to the dangers of unmitigated use of tech and smart devices. There is a need to create an awareness of the power of the user to channel and limit harmful intrusion of smart devices into our personal lives and minds. This will be achieved through a diverse set of tools and activities, including, but not limited to, awareness campaigns, education, art, lectures, and programming.

VALUES

The guiding principles of this endeavor include the support for human autonomy and supremacy over digital devices, humanism, health—especially mental health—the right for privacy, connectivity, communication, democracy, freedom from coercion, protection, and self-expression.

JOHN MACK
FOUNDER

Since the dawn of Augmented Reality (AR) gaming apps, addiction to social media and device use in general, thinker and artist John Mack has been reflecting on the risks that the unmitigated use of smart devices poses to our humanity. Troubled by the innocent guise of intrinsically egregious software, Mack deeply felt the urgency to alert and to educate about the responsible use of such applications and the inevitable pitfalls for our future if we fail to rise to the occasion. Mack works on this mission through a variety of mediums. A frequent speaker at conferences and universities on the subjects of technology, awareness and consciousness, Mack’s latest project is “A Species Between Worlds: Our Nature, Our Screens,” an interactive visual art experience in the heart of New York City concerning humanity’s current migration from the natural world to the virtual world. Running the entire month of May 2022, the exhibition will be the venue of a variety of diverse programs including talks and presentations, film screenings, and other educational activities.