PROTESTANT OR CATHOLIC?
Last month we asked if the Internet was demonic: Since then we have learned that Italian writer Umberto Eco claims that our computers have other theological implications; they may be Catholic or Protestant.
I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant, Eco wrote in the Italian yews weekly LExpresso. Indeed, the Macintosh – cheerful, friendly, conciliatory – belongs to the counter-reformation, telling the faithful how they must proceed step by step to reach – if not the kingdom of heaven..-. then that moment when their document is printed: It is a catechistic system where revelation is dealt with by simple icons and everyone has the right to salvation:
DOS on the other handy is Protestant, even Calvinistic; taking for granted the idea that not all can reach salvation. To make the program work yon need to interpret the program yourself… the user is closed within the loneliness of his own inner torment:
And what of Windows, the graphical interface that runs on DOS computers; but looks like the Macintosh? Eco claims that it is, of course, Anglican offering big ceremonies in the cathedral but always the possibility of a return to DOS.