Interesting Article On Social Media And Religion

[sjdawg]

I found this to be an interesting article. Although it is not about the LDS Church it is my opinion that the LDS Church has been quite progressive in utilizing social media and new technology.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Getting+message+from+Internet/4902297/story.html

Do you think technology is used too much as a religious tool? Not enough? I'm not sure what to think. Technology seems fine as a scheduling/communication tool but I'm not sure it is always an effective medium form communicating things of a spiritual nature. Thoughts?

[LeSellers]

Any article that starts out with this, is higly unlikely to get me to continue reading it.

EDMONTON — Social media has challenged today’s Catholic Church to fit 2,000 years of belief into a 140-word tweet, says Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith.

Nonetheless, any moral means of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a good method.

Lehi

[sjdawg]

Any article that starts out with this, is higly unlikely to get me to contiunue reading it.

At least you are open minded.

[Bond...James Bond]

Do you think technology is used too much as a religious tool? Not enough? I'm not sure what to think. Technology seems fine as a scheduling/communication tool but I'm not sure it is always an effective medium form communicating things of a spiritual nature. Thoughts?

It has certainly made it easier to mass communicate. Rather than travel around doing tent revivals to perhaps a few hundred televangelists can now reach millions every week. In addition email has made mass communication via email lists to all members or select members nearly instantaneous, taking away the time needed for overland mail (especially old style mail that might take weeks). Frankly I don't think it's good or bad. Just religion adapting and attempting to harness technology. The negative side is that critics use the same techniques to oppose religions they disagree with.

[sjdawg]

It has certainly made it easier to mass communicate. Rather than travel around doing tent revivals to perhaps a few hundred televangelists can now reach millions every week. In addition email has made mass communication via email lists to all members or select members nearly instantaneous, taking away the time needed for overland mail (especially old style mail that might take weeks). Frankly I don't think it's good or bad. Just religion adapting and attempting to harness technology. The negative side is that critics use the same techniques to oppose religions they disagree with.

I can agree with all of that.

[Bond...James Bond]

I can agree with all of that.

The good thing is that in all the arguing and debating more people are going back to the primary sources. Rather than take my word that "so and so" said something, you go and "quote mine" (to use the Internet lingo) the original source. In effect the silly debates help increase interest in the old sources.

[sjdawg]

The good thing is that in all the arguing and debating more people are going back to the primary sources. Rather than take my word that "so and so" said something, you go and "quote mine" (to use the Internet lingo) the original source. In effect the silly debates help increase interest in the old sources.

That's probably true. From an LDS perspective to you find the new leadership training broadcast to be more or less effective than the previous training methods.

It does provide more regions with access to the GA's

[Bond...James Bond]

That's probably true. From an LDS perspective to you find the new leadership training broadcast to be more or less effective than the previous training methods.

It does provide more regions with access to the GA's

I'm not LDS. Nevermo. {I'm one of the evil ones, but don't hold it against me .}

But from internet experience I will say that leaders of all organizations and institutions (including religious, businesses, and the government) are slowly becoming more savvy to the reality that they are publicity men as much as anything. As such they have to try to avoid gaffs, because in the world of youtube anything said or released on video can be used to burn them later.

I will also say from personal experience that the "in person" experience holds much more value than the television image in moving people to change their behavior. A motivational speaker in person is much more compelling than a "team building/motivating" video shown to a group. People still interact and respond better to in person behavior. In person training seminars (for business or whatever) are still better because of the ability to respond instantly to questions than a "on size fits all" video that can easily be picked apart where vague statements or gray areas create places where doubt in the training or policy as a whole can take place.

[sjdawg]

I will also say from personal experience that the "in person" experience holds much more value than the television image in moving people to change their behavior. A motivational speaker in person is much more compelling than a "team building/motivating" video shown to a group. People still interact and respond better to in person behavior. In person training seminars (for business or whatever) are still better because of the ability to respond instantly to questions than a "on size fits all" video that can easily be picked apart where vague statements or gray areas create places where doubt in the training or policy as a whole can take place.

I work for a company that has recently starting using video messages from the President to communicate on key issues. The President is a very polished and charismatic public speaker but that doesn't translate well on the videos. He looks uncomfortably and unnatural and it detracts from the message. Hopefully the quality improves over time.

[Bond...James Bond]

I work for a company that has recently starting using video messages from the President to communicate on key issues. The President is a very polished and charismatic public speaker but that doesn't translate well on the videos. He looks uncomfortably and unnatural and it detracts from the message. Hopefully the quality improves over time.

A lot of speakers lose that connection, feeding off the crowd's energy as much as the crowd feeds off the speaker. That symbiotic relationship is lost through the television (or radio/Internet) in a lot of ways. I fear that businessmen/politicians/religious positions will eventually be filled by handsome orators (or beautiful orators in the case of ladies) rather than people of substance. Half our Founding Fathers wouldn't have been elected in the modern world because they were often physically unattractive or only decent speakers (although the teleprompter is forgiving.)

[sjdawg]

A lot of speakers lose that connection, feeding off the crowd's energy as much as the crowd feeds off the speaker. That symbiotic relationship is lost through the television (or radio/Internet) in a lot of ways. I fear that businessmen/politicians/religious positions will eventually be filled by handsome orators (or beautiful orators in the case of ladies) rather than people of substance. Half our Founding Fathers wouldn't have been elected in the modern world because they were often physically unattractive or only decent speakers (although the teleprompter is forgiving.)

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Obama has spent 750K on public speaking lessons since becoming President.

[Bond...James Bond]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Obama has spent 750K on public speaking lessons since becoming President.

He was a hell of an orator when he was just a candidate. But I would suspect that all Presidents get tons of training, coaching in speaking/public decorum considering that every time they speak billions listen.

[LeSellers]

He was a **** of an orator when he was just a candidate. But I would suspect that all Presidents get tons of training, coaching in speaking/public decorum considering that every time they speak billions listen.

Can you hold the profanity down a bit? This is a family board.

Lehi

[Bond...James Bond]

Can you hold the profanity down a bit? This is a family board.

Lehi

It's in the Bible...

"For a fire is kindled in my anger, and shall burne vnto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountaines."

Dueteronomy 32:22, King James Version

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611_Deuteronomy-32-22/

[Mars]

So you'll only use those words when you quote scripture? That's nice of you to concede.

[Bond...James Bond]

So you'll only use those words when you quote scripture? That's nice of you to concede.

Lol. I concede nothing. And I'd just about guarantee kids say far worse when mom and dad aren't around than H-E-double hockey sticks.

[sjdawg]

Can you hold the profanity down a bit? This is a family board.

Lehi

seriously?

[Bond...James Bond]

seriously?

How do I rep a poster? I like this guy/gal. Ah figured it out.

[cinepro]

To the subject at hand, I suspect the history of the LDS Church will be divided into two periods:

1. Before the Internet

2. After the Internet

What the effect of the internet will be, only time will tell. But I suspect that even if easy access to pornography were the internet's only "contribution" to LDS life, it will be monumental.

[Nemesis]

seriously?

Although I think its on the fringes of the profane lets try to remember who the audience is and keep it G rated.

Nemesis

[sjdawg]

To the subject at hand, I suspect the history of the LDS Church will be divided into two periods:

1. Before the Internet

2. After the Internet

What the effect of the internet will be, only time will tell. But I suspect that even if easy access to pornography were its only contribution to LDS life, it will be monumental.

Very Good Point!