Ethics of Image Manipulation

Image Manipulation throughout History and Today

Image manipulation has existed throughout history and has been ethically questioned ever since. The tampering of images has been used to spread propaganda an example of this can be seen in the image on the right. In the original image (top left corner), Stalin is standing among three subordinates. However, in the other three images the subordinates are removed, displaying image censorship. While photo-editing has been used for good purposes such as making images clearer, it has also been used maliciously. The video on the left shows examples of when image editing was used to attempt to alter history. The manipulation of images and censorship continues to exist today in society. Image Manipulation can be seen in the thousands of advertisements we see every day of food and body image. It will continue to because image enhancement is increasing in availability and capability.

How Image Manipulation Affects views of Religion

Image manipulation can be used to put religion in a positive or negative light. Religions could use image manipulation to make their religion seem more appealing to audiences. However, Opponents of religious views could utilize media editing to degrade those who have religious practices. Image manipulation will continue to be used by religious communities and its opponents to encourage or discourage people from practicing their beliefs.


Censorship of images in the Soviet Union by Unidentified Soviet Photographer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

CLT (Center for Literature and Technology) is a productive space, at Trinity University, for faculty and students. This technological space, found on the bottom floor of Coates library, is a great place for a variety of different reasons. First of all the place and space is completely free of charge, and grants students a productive place to work. Students can work on their essays and other forms of homework on the many high functioning computers. Click on my video below to check out a little tour of the CLT.

Another reason why the Center is such a great place for many fellow college peers is because of the small offices located in the back of the center. The offices allow students to be shut off from the rest of the area, which is perfect for studying, but not completely closed off with a glass windows. The small offices are equipped with a computer and a screen monitor to encourage group work. There are many other benefits of the CLT area, including the video room and the 3-D printer (which is free to use for students and faculty!). I will definitely the technology in there to reach out and find out more about religious activities happening around the world.
A really great technology that I think will be awesome to understand the psychology of religion is the drones, in particular the AirDog. The Airdog is an auto-following drone that will allow religious followers to more easily show an ariel view of the many spiritual events that happen every year in many different religions. Some really incredible festivals that can use this new piece of technology to show the rest of the world an ariel view can be seen on Escape Normal's page.

     The importance of coding has been growing for the past few decades, and rising in importance. It is in our laptops, televisions and in the palm of our hands, but how can a bunch of numbers and letters typed into a computer become so useful? Much of what coding is, is just structure, composed of different functions and instructions. In the same way many religions around the world have different functions and instructions, and when they are put together they add up to the religions we see now and believe. It is incredible to see the ways computational thinking is used in a variety of different ways that do not have to pertain to computers. In this case I believe computational thinking is used in religion. To explain how religion uses computational thinking I will use the definition of computational thinking given by Jeannette Wing, VP of research in Microsoft. She says "Computational thinking involves solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior,"In the same way I believe the structure of religion involves these aspects.
      Dr. Wing's description talks about solving problems, in the same way many religions attempt to solve problems, within their community of believers or perhaps in the world that surrounds them. Religious communities solve problems in the world by doing many things such as providing necessities, hope and even prayers for those in need.
      Computational thinking is also about designing systems, which I believe is also something religious communities do. Religious groups develop systems of beliefs based on what they have thought to be inherently true, it is thanks to those systems of beliefs that many people within their respective denominations same page. Without the belief systems set up by religious communities there would be no correlation or common set of things people believe are true. It is those systems that keep people true to their faiths.
     The last thing Dr. Wing claims computational thinking involves is the understanding of human behavior. Religious communities are very centered on the idea of human behavior and are constantly trying to understand it. Many beliefs try to understand the understanding of human behavior and many have tried to explain it, very many have come up empty handed due to how complex human beings are.
      In the end much of what coders do is a lot like what religious communities do. They both try their best to structure things in such a way to help benefit humankind, each in their own different ways.

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Abstract Art Cooperation Earth by OpenClipart-Vectors is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://pixabay.com/en/users/OpenClipart-Vectors-30363/.
Raja, Tasneem. "Is Coding the New Literacy?" Mother Jones. Mother Jones, 16 June 2014. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.

     Hello, I am Carlo Tolentino, I was born in Mexico City but have lived in San Antonio for almost 13 years. I am very interested in people and the way people's experiences and beliefs affect the way they interact with the world around them. I am involved in HOPE hall which gives me many opportunities to serve. I am also involved in a new group that is starting called ALPHA, an organization where many students from different backgrounds will meet and talk about the big questions in life such as the meaning and origin of life.

     The point of view my blog will take on Psychology of Religion is an open one, asking questions about religion and looking at the beliefs of many different ethical practices in an unbiased way. At Trinity University I will learn about many different types of beliefs and will incorporate what I learn on here. I have very little experience with technology but hopefully I will grow as a blogger throughout the months that will follow. I look forward to learning more about the many beliefs that surround me.