The Pixelated Congregation

August 17, 2009 by Nicole Greenfield

Continued from Page 2

Vince Anderson sees both positive and negative aspects of this shift toward the integration of social media into religious life. "Positively, it has introduced a new way for people who are thinking and feeling similar things to connect -- immediately. But it's also negative because for everyone you are connected with, for everyone that is similar in mind and heart, you gain someone who's opposed to you." Anderson says that he finds himself arguing over theological points with his opponents over Twitter, something he thinks doesn't work because it counters the church's reason for having a presence on the site to begin with -- to inspire the congregation. Still, interactions like spontaneous theological debate on Twitter are very significant. They establish the Internet as a valid setting for real religious experience. Moving past the online religion/religion online framework, these experiences will provide an important foundation for the future of religious participation on the Web.

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About Nicole Greenfield

Nicole Greenfield is a writer based in New York City and a contributor to the Patheos Public Square. She has an M.A. in Religious Studies, with a journalism focus, from New York University and a B.A. in Religion from Dickinson College. Her particular...

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