The Bible as Technology: How the Catholic Communication Infrastructure Creates a Path Dependency

Abstract

Situating the Roman Catholic Church within studies of communication infrastructures, my thesis demonstrates how the Church's communication practices were established and entrenched the Church in a path dependency. I situate the Vatican's canonical interpretation of the Bible as technology and examine failures in the Church's infrastructure, which makes elements of the system visible. I study two historical events related to the papacy that highlight these failures: the fourteenth-century Western Schism and Pope Francis' 2020 gay marriage controversy. I explain how Catholic interpretation of the Bible, as an infrastructural technology, is used to resolve Church conflict, but introduces contradictions. I employ a cultural approach, which places religion as the product of media practices and recognizes Catholic interpretation of the Bible as an integral part of infrastructure situated within its complex cultural interactions. Coining the term doppel-paths, I explore path dependency alongside soft technological determinism, and, through this intervention, I provide a novel theoretical approach to understanding religious infrastructures and their contradictions.There are a number of people without whom this thesis would not be possible. First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Hannah Dick, for her care and instruction; my second reader, Dr. Miranda Brady, for her belief and support of this research; my external, Dr. Zeba Crook, for his expertise and generous feedback; and Dr. Rena Bivens for her time in chairing my defense. As well, thank you to the rest of the faculty and staff at Carleton University. I would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Sandra Robinson for her continued encouragement and the many wonderful opportunities she has offered me throughout my degree. Thank you to my family and friends in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal, and across Canada, whose love and support has traversed many kilometers. Kit Chokly, who bore the brunt of my thesis turmoil these past few years and never wavered in their steadfast friendship; thank you for always believing I could do this. Bethany Berard, the best roommate a person could ask for and a truly wonderful mentor. Shanice Bernicky, for her sage advice and sincere support. Thank you to