Numerous religious websites have emerged recently as a result of society's search for spirituality. Although some of these sites are run by specific religious groups trying to communicate more frequently and conveniently with their members, a large number of them are devoted to general spirituality.
This trend mirrors how society in general feels about religion. People are moving away from the organized, structured religions, towards individual beliefs of self-improvement, spirituality, and meditation. In a way, this movement towards individualism is also a movement away from God.
Take, for example, one of the most popular online religious websites, beliefnet.com. Instead of focusing of topics from the Bible or other religious texts, this site offers tips on self-esteem, stress relief, and holistic living.
Religious websites, such as this, have a huge potential for growth and success. For the most part, when someone is looking for a quick answer to a problem, he or she searches the internet. For example, author Elena Larsen reported that "after September 11, 41% of Internet users, many of whom had never considered themselves online spiritual seekers, said they sent or received email prayer requests; 23% of Internet users turned to online sources to get information about Islam; and 7% of Internet users contributed to relief charities online."
Like it or not, the internet has become the source of society's information. So my question to you is: Do you think cyber religions or self-improvement websites can have the same spiritual effect on people as does traditional religions? Why?
People are all at different spiritual road marks. While some people experience spiritual uplifting online, others don't. I think it's better that people search for spiritual guidance than not at all because so many people don't bother to seek any. Many people don't attend church at all. Maybe after spending time online, people will be inspired to search for spiritual truth elsewhere, such as in a physical religious setting.
ReplyDeleteI think that people can be spiritually uplifted from things found on the internet, but I don't think it is the same as a traditional religion. There is something about going with a group of people each week who believe the same thing you do and discussing it. Think of online classes versus being in class. I know when I am doing a class online although I may have contact with the professor through email, it is not the same as being in a class and hearing them and being with peers who can comment on the class with me. I just think there is something missing if the only religious experience you are getting is from the internet.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Wiser
I know that I have been spiritually uplifted by online content such as General Conference, mormon messages, and other videos and music. However, I still need to go to church every Sunday to take the Sacrament and have that face-to-face interaction with church members and leaders. It isn't the same, although online services are helpful and at times edifying.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that cyber religions would have "the same spiritual effect" on people as more traditional religions do. While there may be a spiritual effect, I just don't think it would be nearly as effective.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I thought of is that it just seems like such a self-serving experience. As explained above, the part about beliefnet.com instantly reminded me as if someone was going through a personal therapy session, all but completely focused on themselves.
While this is great that opportunities are available, I tend to feel that a lot of the uplifting blessings I have received in my life have come from service opportunities. Considering the other end of the spectrum, I also often notice that I tend to be less "enlightened" or spiritually uplifted when I just focus on myself. Maybe the idea of service just gives more substance to the idea of an actual religious community.
This point of view might have some underlying LDS context, but I also think that the doctrine of service is most likely a common theme in other more traditional religions as well. Also while it isn't safe to generalize about online religious content, the theme in this blog post pointed my thoughts in this direction..
I think cyber religious worship can definitely affect and improve people's spiirituality but I do not think it can have the same effect.
ReplyDeleteWhen people attend church they are sitting there with friends and family they know. This congregation is their community. Online they have a completely different community experience. Granted it may be the same people in the congregation, they are not sitting near those people experiencing being around them. This inherently makes the experience different.
Additionally, going to church is a physical expression. It requires one to make an effort to get to the church building, usually in different clothes than they would normally wear, and then to sit there for a certain period of time. This is different from the internet where you can go looking however you want because no one will see you with complete ease of access.
So these two things make the process different, which I argue makes the experience different. When you are not with a congregation but online the experience I actually think might be more personal because you do not have to worry about social relationships or things that go with them. Because of this though it does promote a more individualistic approach to spirituality even though most religions emphasize charity and community with others.
Also looking to the fact that it is easy to attend a worship service online it could then be argued that in so doing you are not making as much of an effort to really be involved and thus are not gleaning as much from the speaker.
I think there is good to come from online worship, but the majority should stay in people filled churches.
Mary Houghton
I think you can have a meaningful spiritual experience on the internet but I think there are definitely limitations. In our church we are taught to serve or fellow men as a way to show our devotion to Christ. It is very hard to help your fellow man will sitting on the internet researching religion for yourself. Although you can learn and grow from religious content on the internet it is hard to share that with others or to serve others when you are not surrounded by people in a congregation.
ReplyDeleteOver all I think it is great that there is religious content online that people can learn and grow from but I don't think it is worth anything unless they use that knowledge to benefit others.