Are social media changing religion?

[mgc1961]

Internet users are complaining that the privacy settings on Facebook are confusing, and lawmakers are questioning Google about its gathering of e-mail and other personal data from Wi-Fi residential networks. The boundary between private and public information is becoming murkier every day, a blurring that is perhaps inevitable in the world of online surfing and social networking.
But how about religious communities? The boundaries are shifting there as well, because of a growing emphasis in congregations on honest and open sharing in small groups.

Vibrant churches today have Bible studies and support groups for every demographic, and congregational vitality is found in the relationships that develop among people in these groups. I am pushing my own church in this direction, after spending a sabbatical studying Christian hospitality while visiting congregations that are skilled at welcoming and including people.

"In the search for personal spiritual fulfillment," says Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, "nothing can replace the joy and lasting value of sharing one's faith journey in person with another human being."


Go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-06-21-column21_ST_N.htm for the rest of the article.

[trotsky]

1. "nothing can replace the joy and lasting value of sharing one's faith journey..."

Unless, of course, that "faith journey" ended in non-belief. Then if you talk about it, you're a nasty militant fundie "new" atheist.

[Goblinmonger]

2. That's just your god-shaped hole talking, trotsky

You know, the one you got because of the bad experience with religion that caused you to be an atheist.

[trotsky]

3. Damn, you're right, GM.

Growing up in that liberal, non-fundamentalist ELCA where no one molested me must have just been too traumatic.

[supernova]

4. Think I'll find the book in the article

this author has hit upon something very important re: groups and who participates and why.

Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture
http://www.amazon.com/Introverts-Church-Finding-Extroverted-Culture/dp/0830837027/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

One of the reason I left my last church was that I am extremely introverted and they are extremely social. I tired easily of the endless rounds of committee meetings, events planning, and constantly being asked to participate and constantly just having to say NO!. Or feeling like I did.

Sometimes you just want to sit and be quiet and not be "on the go."

I can only speak about American protestantism, but there is a kind of "socialness is next to godliness" theme that permeates too many churches. And this is true for many groups, not just churches, but also work places, political organizations. If you are more introverted there is something wrong with you that must be fixed or overcome. I've really had enough of that.