Books and media are another challenge. I suppose you could get a Kindle and sell your books, get an iPod and sell your CDs, etc, and that is pretty appealing to me, except that in my line of work there are plenty of books (especially old books and Greek/Hebrew language references) that aren't available electronically. The purpose of getting a scanner (#78) would be to eliminate most or all paper filing, which is an elementary thrust towards this, as is the wifi radio (#79), which eliminates the need for physical albums [I'm not a portable music player kind of person.] Even my puny library weighs in at far more than 100 books – not counting books that I'm actively trying to sell.

You said that you and I weren't far apart and I believe you're correct. From my research in sociology, I've looked at how the development of technology and institutional rationality are not good in and of themselves. Technological and scientific progress merely means we have better tools for accomplishing our ends–whatever those ends may be–both great and terrible.

I agree that some in the West (and also China) have come to believe in some great telos. With each new innovation we see ourselves marching into the brave future (I'm reminded of Soviet Realist paintings with everyone looking up and to the left). We do so at great risk out our future and happiness.

In your post you questioned how I can view humanity has having any inherent value given that I'm a secular agnostic. I do not think it is any great leap to say that I value human life and see it as foundational in ethical/moral decisions. What improves the quality of life and happiness of humanity is what I consider to be good. Pardon me if I misunderstand you and your faith, but your belief that we were created in God's image (therefore providing humanity's worth) relies on a foundation of faith in God and his works.

Again, pardon me if I mischaracterized your beliefs, I do not know enough about your specific theology/faith to describe it better. If I make any mistake, please correct me. That being said, I believe that both your faith and the subsequent belief in humanity's worth, and my belief in humanities inherent worth are places where something is true to us without any further justification (which isn't to say it is unquestioned). You have the advantage of being able to point to a higher authority for the source, but I point to our inherent, biological based, empathetic response to other humans. It is indeed natural for us to feel others emotions, pain, suffering, happiness, etc. Who we empathize with is culturally and structurally bound, but regardless, it is in the very fabric of our brains.

It is really a matter of where we draw our lines. For you, faith, for me, a connection to other human beings (not that those are necessarily mutually exclusive). This is where I find my belief in the inherent value of humanity.