I was recently interviewed in a newspaper about how technology has changed and impacted religion. It was a brief piece although I had contributed a lot more to it.
Here are the 6 ways they’ve outlined, and before you dive in, try to guess which area I contributed to the most:
1. It’s more accessible. Religious groups are able to reach people where they are: online.
2. Distance doesn’t matter as much. The Internet can serve as a community for people who don’t have a chance to meet with a religious group face-to-face.
3. Reputations are shifting. Nothing does away with dowdy religious stereotypes like breaking out an iPhone during a worship service.
4. Stats become important. Online metrics, like page views, Twitter followers and Facebook friends have begun to influence religious groups.
5. Laity gets involved. Social media and the Internet are inherently participatory media, allowing people outside of the church leadership to contribute to and shape the community–for good or bad.
6. There’s increased focus on strategy. A lot of churches and religious nonprofits have hired tech guys, marketers and other specialists to offer direction.
If you’d like to read the full article you can check it out here. I have to add on a personal note that I agree generally with the other statements but I’m not sure they were presented in the best form.
[Image from Spetta]
joanna says
For me the biggest thing is it has changed where people look to learn. Once people might have only learned theology in their local church and from the occasional Christian book. Now people can download podcasts from anywhere, read blogs by anyone or debate people from all around the world on line. I think the implications (both good and bad) of that for local churches are huge. While it creates some good learning opportunities it increases the chances of people to be lead astray into bad theology. With all these new resources of varying qualities available, I think it will become increasingly important for churches to teach their members how to be discerning about religious content they find on the internet.
human3rror says
ah, that is so true!
Kevin Cooper says
Number 6 is a great point that I think a lot of people miss. I love what Lifechurch.tv is doing with “Digital Missions”
GordonMarcy says
The article where your comments were quoted presented Christianity as just one religion among the many fine faiths using technology to take their message to the web. It's a secular paper. No surprise.
Though, as evangelicals we don't consider the Good News as a teaching among equals.
False teachers are pouring onto the Web. Teachers preaching the "gospel of the kingdom" should exceed that number, in my view.
You do a good service by continuing to show them how.
Graham Brenna says
#3 made me laugh. I would agree with you that these probably weren't presented in the best way. I know you have broken each of these down for us on this blog in one way or another in the past year.
I know that building a strong faith community is what it's all about… not playing an iPhone game during worship. ๐
human3rror says
๐ you're a good student of this blog graham. seriously.
Graham Brenna says
Thanks John. I'm pickin' up what you're layin' down ๐
Lucy Robinson says
actually it doesn’t matter what Religion you may have, as long as you treat the other person right.,*`
freya hawke says
Hi I’m doing a research task on media and religion, would it be possible to find out how wrote this article and when they wrote it (year)? thanks a bunch
Freya