Abandon the Deus Ex Machina.

Instead build Machinae Ex Deo; "Machines of God"

You’ve probably heard of a “Deus Ex Machina”; a common device in storytelling, originating from a piece of equipment used in theater to hoist actors up in the air to play dieties. The phrase of course means “God from the Machine”, and sometimes refers to plot devices where inexplicable means are employed to arrive at a desired ending.

I (well, actually my friend Jackson should be credited with the clever name) propose that a Deus Ex Machina is a perversion of the Machinae Ex Deo: the Machines of God.

In the proper formulation, “Deo” (God) is singular and genitive; God is very truly the source of good machinery. It is only by following the Logos that engineers arrive at pleasing designs that work. To the extent that a piece of equipment truly works, it is to the degree that it follows God’s divine Logos.

“Machinae” is nominatve and plural. God’s unity and one-ness cannot be passed down and imparted. Machinery that pleases him must necessarially be manifold.

As technology encompasses more, systematizing the world, it is tempting especially for technologists to desire monolithic systems or to see the machines we are making as part of some larger monolith. But, that has never been God’s design pattern for the world. He has always desired multiplicity in creation.

To desire encompassing and monolithic systems is a false and idolatrous impulse that is not decreed by God. We must not build systems that box things out and fail to allow multiplicity.

Why would one desire a Deus Ex Machina anyways? In literature, to solve a problem that is otherwise unsolvable. Yet, whenever such devices are employed, the outcome on the story is horribly unsatisfying. Intuitively, a machine that delivers us god on a silver platter from on high in the way we would expect… is still jarring to us. It’s disappointing. Though the particular objective may be achieved, the full picture is sad. Shouldn’t we be happy though?

If I’m right about this, we shouldn’t expect to recieve God, happiness, fulfillment, joy - from machines. We should expect to build the machinery God has called us to - and in that act, perhaps we will achieve these good things.