Spirit and cyberspace
As many Americans seek spiritual nurture on the Internet as in church. Yet being involved in a congregation increases the chance that people will turn to the Web for spiritual friendship and connections.That's the finding of a study released this month by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
In a comprehensive study of Web behavior related to religion, the Project discovered that:
* 64% of the nation's 128 million Internet users have done things online that relate to religious or spiritual matters
* Those who use the Internet for religious or spiritual purposes are more likely to be women, white, middle aged, college educated, and relatively well-to-do
* Evangelicals are among the most fervent Internet users for religious and spiritual purposes.
* The "online faithful" are devout and use the Internet for personal spiritual matters more than for traditional religious functions or congregational work. But their faith-activity online seems to augment already-strong commitments to congregations.
But only 17 percent of those who pursue the Spirit in cyberspace use the Web to search for places to attend religious services.
Overall, the portrait that emerges in this study counters, somewhat, the concern that the Internet will serve primarily as a venue for privatized religion.
"This study found that the Internet does provide people with sources of information, symbolic resources, and opportunities for networking and interaction outside the boundaries of formal religious bodies or traditions," the authors write.
"Yet it also found that the online faithful seem more interested in augmenting their traditional faith practices and experiences by personally expressing their own faith and spirituality, as opposed to seeking something new or different in the online environment."
There is rich ground here for those interested in ritual studies, liturgical studies, and pastoral care. Some questions to consider:
* How will this online behavior influence religious behavior overall?
* How is it altering networks of care in and beyond congregations?
* What new forms of worship or piety are emerging online?
* In what ways is the Web contributing to the empowerment of the laity and the transformation of the role of professional clergy?
.: Posted by Duane Bidwell on Tuesday, April 13, 2004
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