Has it really come to this? The Internet is evolving every facet of our lives. It is becoming faster and wider spread than ever before. We can access it from personal computers, phones, and our televisions. With greater accessibility comes greater utilization. We use the internet to shop, socialize, study, and now more frequently worship.
I have only recently realized the extent of the Internet’s influence on religion. In our text book, it quotes a survey done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project that claims, “a quarter of all internet users have searched the web for religious material” (pg. 124). Newer websites such as godtube.com and faithout.com are dedicated to faith based content. The following clip demonstrates the growing popularity of faith online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53wucE8muP4
Another news articles explains that more youth are turning to the Internet for religion.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/07/millennials-finding-religion-online/
If you didn’t take time to read the article, no worries, my emphasis is on the thought provoking conclusion of the articles that states “Young people are not only creating their own religious identities, they may also be changing the future of worship itself.” It seems religion to many is leaving the chapels and finding refuge in the individual. So, YouTube makes people like Antoine Dodson a celebrity, and GodTube makes people like me and you pastors of our own fold.
Ok, so we’ve briefly discovered that religion is finding a new home in the Internet. How can we compare this to the past? Can you think of another time religion evolved along with technology? The parallel is with the invention of the printing press in 1450. Our text states that “for the first time, everyone who was able to read had access to the Bible, making it possible for them to disagree with Catholic authorities and even the Protestant Reformers themselves” (pg. 125). The new technology was a catalyst in causing major reform and lead to dissent and the forming of a great number of new denominations.
Now, the Internet makes an incredible amount of information available to each of us. It also affords us the means to communicate our own message to others anywhere on the globe. With the impact of the printing press in mind, my question is, IS THE INTERNET CAUSING A SIMILAR REFORMATION TO THAT OF THE PRINTING PRESS? WHY OR WHY NOT?
This is a very interesting question. I would argue that they are similar in the fact that they are making information more available. The internet makes information immediate but it does not always mean that information is accurate. If we googled, "cons to joining the ___ church" you would find a vast amount of information...whether it's true is another story. The great thing about the internet is the possibility of finding truth but unless you know what to search it sends you down a road of unlimited information that may snuff any chance at finding the truth.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good question. I agree that the internet is causing a similar reformation that the printing press created. The internet has made it so easy to get information about anything.
ReplyDeleteThinking about the restoration of the Gospel, the invention of the printing press pretty much made it possible to share the gospel. I think it's important to recognize that the Church is doing something similar with the internet now. They have recognized the opportunities that lie within the internet. Now members are able to share the gospel to people we couldn't reach before.
It definitely is causing a reformation because it has clearly changed the realm of religion already. However, as far as traditional religion goes, I don’t think that the reformation will be a positive one. In the video posted they reported that online religions require no commitment. Because of this, online services provide a very different form of religion than do traditional churches. One of the church leaders in the video also stated that these online religious services are not meant to replaces the “brick and mortar” of church but rather be used as a supplement. I fear, however, that because of the convenience of online religious services it will replace traditional ones and those traditional churches with the sense of community and commitment that they provide will dwindle in importance. Perhaps this will lead to a redefining of the term religion entirely so that what we think of as traditional religion today will become extinct or at least only practiced among a small minority.
ReplyDeleteWith the impact of the printing press in mind, my question is, IS THE INTERNET CAUSING A SIMILAR REFORMATION TO THAT OF THE PRINTING PRESS? WHY OR WHY NOT?
ReplyDeleteI don't see how it's not. I mean, I think this question is a little too broad for finding an answer for religion specifically. The internet is the go-to for this global exchange of information. I don't think the reformation is causing quite the same effects as simply allowing more people access to religion because now people have a place to rest on because it's at their fingertips. It has its ups and downs. Globally it allows people all sorts of access; however, locally I think it's almost a negative. Last Sunday a speaker used his phone for referencing scriptures and it was not only distracting, but I personally felt it lacked spirit. There is a time and place for everything. Now the reformation lies in the hands of whoever chooses to use it, whether it be appropriately or inappropriately, for the purpose of building Zion or because it's "easier".
I absolutely believe the internet has caused a similar reformation to that of the printing press. It has literally changed the way the world gets their information and the speed in which information is dispersed. Whereby it used to take days to get information about something happening in the world, we now can see the event as it unfolds in front of our eyes via the internet. I also believe it provides more of a balanced reporting of the events as one has access to not just one newspaper or publication but up to thousands of sources can be accessed by the strike of a few keystrokes. In my opinion, the internet is one of the greatest innovations of our generation/lifetime.
ReplyDeleteIt is something that our generation grew up with and something that I couldn't imagine my life without. Once books started getting printed that changed the way people learned, and went about day to day activities. It is interesting to think back to the time period with the printing press and how long ago that was. Now, to think about where we are now with the new inventions from Apple such as, the Ipad is just amazing. I always makes me wonder where we will be a hundred years from now.
I do think that the internet has caused a similar reformation to the printing press because it is letting more people access religious documents. However I don't think that this new reformation is going to be good for the general religious public. I think there is value in actually getting up and going to church rather than watching it on the internet. I do understand that people can feel the spirit through things like mormon messages but if we take out going to church all together i think our lives will become more idle.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for people to make an effort. It is dangerous to make church so accessible. I could see myself putting things off and thinking I can watch the sermon later if it is just on youtube. I understand that maybe it would be really beneficial for mothers with a lot of children to just click play on the speaker rather than have to get everyone ready for church but i think it is important to make that effort. Just like we are asked to say our prayers on our knees, not in the comfort in our bed.
I agree that the Internet is changing the way religion is perceived. I feel the Internet and the printing press can be very similar because both have brought religion closer to the general public. First, the printing press allow everyone who was seeking religion have a copy of the Bible and other religious document so it broke the religion access exclusivity of the clergy and open the doors of the critic of religion. On the other hand, the internet has also allow a greater access of people to religious material. Now a person who does not have any idea of the LDS church can simply "google" the word and find positive and negative information about it. In addition, the internet is allowing the establishment of new religions just as the printing press did.
ReplyDeleteI would conclude that the printing press and the Internet are similar for two reasons:
1. It contribute to the spread of religion and facilitate the access of religion material to the general public.
2. It lead to the creation of new beliefs, religions and ideas.
-Stefani Leyva
I think that the printing press caused people and families to gather in more intimate settings. They broke off from huge, traditional cathedral-like services and gathered in smaller groups with more personal interaction. I think that the feeling of mass services can be very impersonal. The printing press brought scriptures to mass audiences and the internet is doing the same.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I feel that the printing press encouraged group study and community unity, but the idea of internet religion is even more intimate. It's harder for people to gather around a computer than for them to gather around a bible. So I feel that the internet is causing much more seclusion in religious study.
I think the are very similar in that more information available to the people, the more diverse opinions are formed. Just like you stated the main reason for the reformation was the availability of the bible from the printing press. Instead of being told how to worship, people were learning how to worship themselves. I think the Internet is having the same effect. People form their own opinions on how to worship on an individual level by the availability of more information on the Internet.
ReplyDelete