Religion has been a topic of debate ever since its beginnings and in every culture. While there are many different religions and beliefs in this world, as well as mediums used, that have changed over time, one thing that has always remained constant is this continuing war of words about such beliefs.It is interesting to find that when it comes to religion, something created to bring people together, it has become one of the biggest wedges in dividing humanity. While I see no problem with having differences in beliefs or opinions, it seems that is what the world focuses on.
Ralph Waldo Emerson stated: “In the matter of religion, people eagerly fasten their eyes on the difference between their own creed and yours; whilst the charm of the study is in finding the agreements and identities in all the religions of humanity.”
The internet has allowed people to become connected like never before. The vast amounts of information about all subjects in this world are now only a few key strokes away. Surely, this new medium and its connective power have allowed us to find that charm of study expressed by Emerson. Instead of just the leading preachers, rabbis, imams, and others heading the religious debate, members of such religions have been empowered to voice their own views. In this era of understanding and enlightenment, the internet allows the everyday person to discuss what differences they have in faith. Instead of individual pamphlets written and distributed in town, people now have blogs. Instead of meeting in the town square, we are meeting on social websites. Instead of sharing our opinions in giant forums, we turn to YouTube. There are so many avenues to which people can come together to talk religion.
While this is the case, I find that instead of coming closer in understanding our similarities and respecting our differences in beliefs with the use of the internet, the exact opposite is occurring. Christianity seems more divided today than ever before, the Muslim faith cannot decide which group is truly correct, and it seems that everyone is becoming quickly offended by a certain type of prayer in school, holiday greeting, or even a question of curious observance. Instead of becoming more enlightened, society is choosing to become more entrenched in its own beliefs.
It seems that instead of using this new tool and medium to change ways of understanding different views, the internet is used as just a new way to bring fire to an old argument.
My question is: So is the internet really a place where multiple opinions and ideas have come together in discussion and expression for further understanding, or is it just our new way of yelling at each other that “my religion is better than yours”?
BY: Neal Minson
In my personal experience I have found that the internet is a place where one can say what they want while hiding behind a cloak of invisibility. When I was a teenager I would sign on to discussion boards as a Mormon.
ReplyDeleteWithout exception I was mocked for my beliefs. My purpose in doing so was often to stir the pot and create discussion. It was easy for me to argue and say whatever I wanted because I knew there would be no consequences. At the very worst I would asked to leave the chat room. When that happened I would log off and spend a few minutes laughing about how mad everyone got.
Because the internet provides such an anonymous forum for speech it is much easier to belittle someone else. In a face to face conversation I would never say some of the things I typed. I was bold in sharing my beliefs but often crossed into being overbearing.
I think that it takes an educated person who has vast knowledge in all spectrums of religious believes to get anything out of internet worship. I am thankful that at least people are going to the internet to seek out God and ways of worship, but at the same time I think it may defit the purpose of feeling the spirit and pertaking the sacrament each week. It seems like it is all about convenance to the individual, a lot of people who find worship online don't want to attend a service or congregation of vast audiences. Again, if it brings people to worship God and start praying to him maybe it's a start!
ReplyDeleteI think that the internet is an arena where people can both come together and grow further apart. It all depends on the person, not the medium. Some people like to contend with others, while others have sincere questions and a desire to be a part of a friendly online community.
ReplyDeleteI did a little experiment. I searched "religious tolerance" on Google: 1,770,000 pages. "Coexist" brought 4,260,000 pages (most of the responses were in reference to religious tolerance, but perhaps 20% made reference to some environmental issue). "Peace" brought 271,000,000. On the other side of the tracks, "Christianity vs" brought 6,130,000 pages. "Islam vs" brought 16,300,000, and "only true" brought 715,000,000. I'm grateful that I can use the internet to fulfill Emerson's AWESOME quote above, but the numbers, sadly, speak for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments. It is such a tragedy that people are so quick to bring one another down. I don't understand why people find that by trying to falsify and degrade another religion they prove their own to be the 'truth'. If they truly practiced what they preached, this would not be the case.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the chapter, I decided to go to a few religious websites where all religions were present. Initially, it was quite pleasing to see all the information about each offered on the home page. However, I noticed this wonderful tool was not used as it was set up to be. I visited the site for the 'mormons' and after an article that was posted read all the comments below. So many terrible filthy things were posted after such a beautiful article. It was disappointing to see.
So in conclusion, I have to agree. Rather than the wonderful tool it could be used for, more often than not people have merely found a new way to criticize and 'bible bash'.
Sarah Wett
I agree with Bryce. Online discussion on most topics, and especially on religion, is usually human discourse at its worst. Issues of pride are amplified by the anonymity provided by the internet, and the end result is more or less a yelling match by either one or both parties. Even if one does have a rational and sound argument, one will have a hard time finding a courteous opponent willing to cede any points or have an intelligent discussion.
ReplyDeleteA recent experience of mine provides a good example. The other day I read an article about an upcoming Super Bowl commercial that will feature Tim Tebow and is sponsored by the organization "Focus on the Family." The main point of the article was that the fact that a commercial with a moral message made it through the Super Bowl censors was a rare feat - although they did not comment on the propriety of the spot itself. In the comments section however, were many a comment denouncing the organization and Tebow. Many of these comments were quite bigoted and hateful, and in many ways were the written equivalent of a yelling match. There were a few comments in defense of the commercial, and other comments asking the others to calm down and allow others to exercise their right of free speech, but these more rational comments seemed to make little difference in later posts, as the prejudiced denouncements of the commercial continued.
In short, it was no discussion, but merely a shouting match. I feel that this phenomenon is not isolated but widespread across the internet.
The internet gives a voice to everyone, and an opportunity for everyone to share or scream their opinion very easily. We as Provo-ites are not use to hearing people with radical opinions or anything like that because there aren't many people like that around here. Plus, we don't tend to associate ourselves with those people that have such extreme ideas. But out in the real world, there are plenty of people that hold strong opinions and are always looking for the opportunity to make it heard. The internet makes it easier for them to do so. And the majority of the time, it's those who have such extreme ideas that share them on discussion boards, and chat rooms, and comment on blogs.
ReplyDeleteI'm in now way condoning the use of harsh language or arguing in anyway. But these opinions do exist. I don't think the internet is anymore a place to argue than the front porch is. It's just opened a channel for opinions to be shared. Unfortunately, the majority of those opinions are very strong and very intense.
I have seen that the internet is a place for both depending on the sites in which an online user is visiting.
ReplyDeletePlaces such as chat rooms and social networking sites (where the innate purpose is communicating and creating connections) tend to create more close minded communication. Because these messages are typically public they are open to greater scrutiny. All it takes is one person to post a negative comment, and out come the zealot defenders and zealot haters. Although I have not searched well respected sites that may offer chat options, in forums such as Facebook the discussion is never truly enlightening because people are too quickly judged as being preachy, good comments may be brushed off as self-righteous.
On blogs and places where people have a loving following feel a personal connection with the blogger, they are more apt to accept the blogger's religious thoughts and while they may disagree the conversation will typically not turn malicious.
- Rebecca Anderson