Christianity, Inc.: The Rise of Silicon Valley’s False Prophets – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

For decades, Silicon Valley has been the home of libertarian techno-utopianism and wild transhumanist dreams. Big Tech’s self-styled visionaries actively promote a particular kind of secular messianism, fixated on transcendence through algorithms and artificial intelligence. Now, however, a powerful network of investors and founders has a bold new vision — one in which Christian values actively shape business decisions.

This movement, known as ACTS 17 Collective, is gaining traction, drawing an impressive roster of influential supporters. Among them is Trae Stephens, co-founder of Anduril and a partner at Founders Fund, who recently framed its mission as the pursuit of “good quests” — careers that shape the future in ways that align with Christian theology. Founded by his wife, Michelle Stephens, the group’s name — “Acknowledging Christ in Technology and Society” (ACTS) — reflects its broader aim to supposedly “redefine success for those who define culture.”

At first glance, it seems like an attractive proposition. After all, Silicon Valley has long faced criticism for its soulless pursuit of wealth, its culture of excess, and its cold, transactional approach to human relationships. A movement that emphasizes virtue, purpose, and higher meaning should be welcomed, shouldn’t it?

Not necessarily.

At its core, Christianity is founded on humility, sacrifice, and a fundamental rejection of materialism. The Bible does not advocate for power for power’s sake, nor does it imply that wealth accumulation is inherently virtuous. The worlds of venture capital and tech startups, however, promote a very different type of gospel. (RELATED: The Case for Christian Conservatism)

Success in Silicon Valley is built on the relentless pursuit of growth and victory at all costs. Valuations must skyrocket. Users must be molded and manipulated. Ethical considerations — whether it be the exploitation of gig workers, data privacy violations, or the monopolization of markets — are secondary (if they are considered at all). This isn’t the essence of the Beatitudes, where the meek inherit the earth. Instead, it’s the hellish dominion of billionaire oligarchs, where the meek are crushed into oblivion.

Can the ethos of Christianity really coexist with that of Silicon Valley?

When tech leaders, some of whom actually see themselves as god-like figures, start talking about faith, it’s worth asking who benefits. (RELATED: Andrew Breitbart, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Two-Way Politics-Culture Street)

Call me a cynic (I’ve been called worse), but the ACTS 17 movement feels less like an expression of Christian humility and more like an attempt to sanctify Silicon Valley’s influence. Take the phrase “good quests,” for instance. It doesn’t just suggest that venture capitalists and tech founders are entrepreneurs; it casts them as anointed knights on a sacred mission. It frames their decisions — whether funding AI-driven defense projects, reshaping digital speech laws, or shaping public policy — as inherently righteous. But, I ask, why should we swallow what they are selling? (RELATED: Should We Believe Facebook on Free Speech?)

The likes of Apple, Google, and Meta didn’t rise to power through humility. They crushed competitors, exploited legal loopholes, and used their influence to dictate the rules of entire industries. And while Jeff Bezos may have had his own “come to Jesus” moment — announcing that the Washington Post would take a less, shall we say, extreme approach to op-eds — it’s worth remembering how he built his empire. He didn’t do it through virtue. He did it by undercutting small businesses, using predatory pricing to eliminate competition, and then jacking up prices once dominance was secured. Is that what Christian ethics look like? (RELATED: Jeff Bezos Launches Intervention at the Washington Post)

Google’s entire business model is steeped in sin. The company extracts as much personal data as possible, sells it to advertisers, and manipulates information flows to shape public discourse. Christianity preaches truth and transparency, but Silicon Valley thrives on control and deceit. (RELATED: Google’s Found Guilty for Illegal Monopoly on Internet Search)

If ACTS 17 were genuinely committed to bringing Christian values to tech, it would call for an end to monopolization, limits on corporate power, and genuine repentance from the industry’s most influential players. But it isn’t. Not yet, anyway. Of course, that could change. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. Because that would mean dismantling the very system from which entities like ACTS benefit.

Even if we take the movement’s leaders at their word — that this represents a genuine attempt to introduce Christian ethics into a largely immoral industry — Silicon Valley’s history suggests something much more sinister.

Tech doesn’t adopt new philosophies. It commodifies them; it corrupts them.

Just consider modern-day mindfulness. Once a deeply spiritual Buddhist practice, it has now become little more than a corporate productivity “hack.” Zone out for 15 minutes, then grind for 15 hours. Meanwhile, psychedelics, once a countercultural tool for self-discovery, have been repackaged into corporate wellness programs and microdosing regimens. If Christianity isn’t careful, it could be dragged down a similar path.

Before long, a “good quest” may have less to do with living in accordance with God’s will and more to do with effective sales pitches and improving market value. Salvation won’t be measured by spiritual growth but by venture capital funding rounds. Christianity doesn’t thrive when it’s co-opted by the ruling class. It thrives when it stands as a moral counterweight — a force that reminds the powerful they, too, answer to something greater.

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