According to Facebook.com, there are more than 150 million active users on Facebook. More than half of Facebook users are outside of college, and 70% of users are outside the United States. 3 billion minutes worldwide are spent on Facebook each day. I think it is safe to say that this social networking site is far-reaching across the globe. With so many people involved in social media in one way or another, I was curious to take a closer look at the effects that social media website has on religion.
The internet allows for free-flow of information for anyone who wants to get an idea out there for all to see. Through Facebook groups, statuses, profiles and blogs, anyone can put the deepest feelings and ideas of their heart out for all to see. This is not something that was not nearly as accessible even just 10 years ago. This increased flow of information brings not only the positive warm fuzzy feelings about religion, but also the negative feelings towards religion. Because these feelings are not expressed face-to-face, and people can go anonymously if they desire, many people say things that they would not normally say.
One such example is a popular video that spread through social media. The video is of Tom Cruise expressing his feelings about scientology. Many mocked and laughed at Tom Cruise for acting like a maniac. The reputation of Scientology has been significantly changed because of the Internet. Many of the ideas that people have about the religion have been formed by things that they have seen on the internet. One of the largest groups that has formed against scientology is a group called “Anonymous.” This group is an internet-based group, but they have also gathered in person. They lead a protest of about 200 people at the headquarters of scientology. I think that this group shows the power that some internet-based religion opinion groups can have. Because of the viral spreading of the video, the scientologists started a series of lawsuits about getting the rights to the video. This is one of the major differences between other media sources and the internet. It is a lot harder to keep things private and copyrighted on the internet. Scientology is not the only religion with a large amount of material against them on the internet. Anti-Mormon material on the internet is widespread. False facts and ideas are spread like wildfire. At the same time, the internet has opened up huge opportunities for good information on any religion. Because material on the internet often has little credibility, many people are left confused about what to believe.
Do you think that this free-flow of information has had a more positive effect on religion or a negative effect? Does the good outweigh the bad?
Like you mentioned in your post, I think that the internet has had both a bad and a good effect on religion. Sure, it allows people to find individual fulfillment by connecting with a group of other people (ironically) with the same beliefs, but like we learned from Peggy Fletcher Stack and Jennifer Dobner, religion is such a touchy subject and so much false and spiteful information can be spread by people via the internet. I wonder how many people have read anti-mormon literature on the web and have been affected by it. But I also wonder how many people have been converted to the church after first discovering it on the web via lds.org, second life, etc. It's hard to say whether it's been negative or positive. But if you think about it, religion was just as existent and widespread and beloved as it is now before the internet was around. The difference is that people are now exposed more than ever to religions other than their own.
ReplyDeleteThe Internet, like any technology, is a tool. People can use that technology for whatever they please. If you invent movable type, somebody will print Bibles, somebody else will publish hate tracts. On the topic of religious information and propoganda, I think the advent of the Internet is a good thing, in that it enables people to do what they would do anyway. If they are going to believe lies, then they would believe them regardless of where they come from, be that a website, a tract, a book, an angry preacher, or their own mother. If they're apt to think things out on their own, then they'll do that. The Web just gives people more information faster to go ahead and decide.
ReplyDeleteYou could take this question both ways. Our church has constantly promoted the internet and all of its many uses to help spread our religious ideas. It has also given us the ability to set the record straight in many instances. People can share ideas about religion and have healthy debates. Mormon.org was developed by the first presidency to help others learn all about our religion. But, there are problems with the internet. It is much easier to access incorrect information about our church and people could develop a 100% wrong idea about our church. These bad ideas could develop harmful opinions. So, either way the internet can have good and bad effects.
ReplyDeleteThe effect that the free-flow of information has on Faith is relative. It can be positive in the fact that it can spread faiths, make people more aware of them, and understand them more fully. People who are insecure can “go to church” by attending a service online. People may have a problem with this, but in a way, I think it’s great and revolutionary. I’m sure it’s not the ideal way of worship, but someone is making the effort to go to church, learn about gospel principles, implement some order and religion in their lives. It’s a step towards good things. On the other hand, it can be negative and even detrimental to a religious organization. Individuals can put whatever they want on the internet so they can tear down organizations with anti- literature and false publications about an organization, turning people away. Overall though, I believe that the effect that the free-flow of info has had a positive effect religion, making info more accessible and bringing people to religion who would normally feel uncomfortable in that environment.
ReplyDeleteI think social media has become its own religion. Ask yourself, how many times a day do I check my facebook? Now, how many times a day do I read the scriptures? My answer to this question cuts me a little. Is facebook my religion? I hope not, but I look at it more than I crack my scriptures.
ReplyDeleteI think the internet can be used for a very positive influence in our Church, and I think it has accomplished a lot and informed a lot of people about our religion. It's important to look at the positive aspects because the internet isn't going anywhere, and the social media is only going to become more advanced. One of my friends in high school sent me a message on Facebook asking me about the Mormon church and I was able to tell him about it and dispell some of the rumors he had heard about our church. If not for Facebook, he wouldn't have had a way to contact me because we weren't close enough friends to have each other's phone numbers. The internet and social media can be used for good, and I think for the most part it has been used for good. We can share our testimonies and share information about our church to other people, even people we don't know, much more easily than we could before the internet was invented. Most things have a good and bad side, and like everything else, the internet can be a very negative influence for churches. I think, however, that if people want to find the truth about our church through the internet it is very possible and a lot of good can be done.
ReplyDeleteFrom a religious stand point, I think that the core reason that any technology has been able to come forth in this dispensation is for the building up of the kingdom. These new inventions have come forth to further the growth of the church. However, just like every thing, the internet has be corrupted. I think that it has had a more positive effect on religion though. The LDS church has LDS.org, Mormon. org, and other non church affiliated sites. Investigators are able to find information, church buildings, missionaries, scripture, articles, contact information, and even chat online with members.
ReplyDeleteFrom a religious stand point, I think that the core reason that any technology has been able to come forth in this dispensation is for the building up of the kingdom. These new inventions have come forth to further the growth of the church. However, just like every thing, the internet has be corrupted. I think that it has had a more positive effect on religion though. The LDS church has LDS.org, Mormon. org, and other non church affiliated sites. Investigators are able to find information, church buildings, missionaries, scripture, articles, contact information, and even chat online with members.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to say. Putting religion next to the sleaze and blandness of everyday life and conversation can be a way of degrading it. However, what is religion if not part of our daily interactions anyway? The quick and efficient means of the web can have a very powerful effect on sharing and emphasizing religion in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is any problem with the free flow of information on the Internet or any other media form so long as it portrays a religion accurately and fairly. Now, there are many instances and evidences that prove that this is usually not the case. But, a free flow of information about religion would incite questions, and people answer. A current study at Purdue University is researching how Wikipedia is a giant proof of the "group think" theory. In a way, people and cultures can communicate in a similar way for the benefit of religion.
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