A few years ago, a study by Swedish scientists suggested that regular use of a mobile phone for 10 years or more can lead to increased rates of acoustic neuroma (a kind of brain tumour).

Since then, an Australian neurosurgeon, Dr Khurana, wrote in the non-scientific media (IndependentOnline) about an alleged “increasing body of evidence … for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours”.

He said it “is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking”.

But the more recently-published 13-nation INTERPHONE project, the largest-ever study of its kind, has NOT found a solid link between mobiles and brain tumours.

For the present moment, we ordinary people simply don’t know the health implications of mobile phone use . . . .

* * *

There are, however, other issues relating to mobiles that we do know:

(1) Most mobile phone conversations that you hear or overhear are merely killing time — largely gossip and trivia. When people aren’t busy, they’ve developed the habit of reaching for the phone and talking to somebody, anybody – even if they have nothing to say that needs saying.

(2) Phone talk has become a way of avoiding silence and solitude. We fear being alone with our thoughts without a mobile to protect us.

(3) Least of all do we want to be conscious of being alone with God . . . .

* * *

Yet true religion teaches that we NEED time alone with God.

We should force ourselves set aside such times. Just turn the thing off — if somebody is looking for you, he/she can leave a message.

Are you really so important and indispensible that the world cannot manage without you for, say, fifteen minutes?

* * *

We need to take control of our technology. Not vice versa.

Modern people tend to be like the man whose dog takes him for a walk.

Turn the tables. Take charge of your life — at least for long enough to hand it over to God and let him take charge of it.

Do not hand your life over to addictive, soul-enfeebling electronic contraptions.