The concern that he raised that I share with him is that many are using the internet as a substitute for actual community. The internet cannot provide real fellowship. He concludes the article with these words:
. . . even at its best, the Internet is a weakening of reality, and with its consumer satisfactions, politicizing impulses, and substitutions for the body,Amen!
it constantly lures us up into thinner and thinner air. Isn't religion supposed
to enrich the world around us instead? Shut off your computer. Take a deep
breath. Go to church.
1 comment:
In an October 2005 study, The Barna Group found that, "The Internet serves as the foundation for interactive faith experiences for more than one out of every ten adults."
Barna posits discontentment with congregational churches, changes in lifestyle and a growing desire to draw closer to God are the reasons people are leaving traditional, local churches.
see: www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=202
Still, the huge mega-churhes seem to be doing quite well. In the first major study of mega-churches, Hartford Institute for Religion Research reported, "that rapid development of these large congregations took place during the last two decades."
The report also states that these huge churches also tend to be conservatively bent. Actually, 88% of them state the Bible is their single absolute authority for worship and teaching.
Perhaps, smaller, local churches would experience a larger increase in growth if they would maintain the same value.
The full report can be found here:
http://hirr.hartsem.edu/org/faith_megachurches_FACTsummary.html
Christians can also be found in increasing numbers in Christian Chat Rooms. There's tons of them out there that span a wide variety of topics. Some of them are setup for voice and it's not uncommon to hear members preach a 2-minute sermon.
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