The characterization of Spike allows the viewer to compare technological measures to the metaphysical controls which normally determine human behavior. To explore the collision of religion and technology caused by The Initiative’s implantation of a behavior control chip in Spike, I focus on Spike’s chip as a substitute for his soul. The characterizations of Spike encompass four periods: from School Hard through Wild at Heart, when he has neither his soul nor the chip and kills without regret; The Initiative through Grave when he is chipped but soulless, during which time he desires to kill but is prevented from doing so by the chip and shows no regret for his past actions; Lessons through Potential, when he has both his soul and the chip and has neither the desire nor ability to kill (voluntarily)and is racked with guilt over acts he committed when soulless; and finally from The Killer in Me through Chosen, when he has his soul but not the chip, and is able to kill but chooses not to and continues to suffer for his past sins. A comparison of Spike’s behavior, and relationships with Buffy and the other scoobies during the four phases of his characterization makes clear that the chip’s primary function is as, a soul-replacement that physically prevents him from taking actions he would otherwise be morally prevented from taking. This raises the question of free will by asking if Spike can recover his humanity under the control of technological restraints or is only able to redeem himself when he is given the ability to transgress but chooses not to.