Meet the Author

My name is Jonathan Runyan. I specialize in digital forensics, like crime scenes in a virtual town. Prior to this, I worked as a pastor and counselor for seven years. I find when the virtual and spiritual worlds collide, things get interesting, and that’s when I sit down and write about it. 

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Background

 

As a senior cyber security engineer for a large firm, my professional research focuses on AI exploitation, the psychology behind social engineering, and anomaly detection. I have authored security curriculums on threat mitigation used by thousands of students, and I've spoken at conferences and gatherings for the past fifteen years on topics like: digital addiction, defending against government sponsored hacking, and navigating the intersection between spiritual and virtual reality. I hold a B.S. in Computer Networking and have also received education from Covenant Theological Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity school.

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Influences

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I'm indebted to the following thinkers and storytellers: John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, Soren Kierkegaard, Timothy Keller, John Wimber, John White, Ray Bradbury, George McDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Ursula K. Leguin, Charles Dickens, Watchman Nee, John Stott, Graeme Goldsworthy, and Victor Frankl. 

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Faith

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Identifying with creeds and denominations is almost as problematic as aligning with political parties, as one must carry a keen awareness of the inherent weaknesses and faults therein. However, if a theologian backed me into a proverbial corner and held a holy dagger to my chest, I might reluctantly blurt out the Westminster Confession.

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Family

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My wife, Jenna, and our five children, are more precious to me than any poem could tell and more meaningful than any volume could describe. We share a love for great storytelling, and Jenna spends an hour each day reading and exploring imaginative worlds with our kids. While we're admittedly a technologically driven family, screens are often banned after dinner, and that's when the human spirit comes alive in our home.​

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Media

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Inquiries on speaking, podcasts, or anything else can be sent to Taylor Cole.

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