Naive Christians Thought the Net Would Spread the Faith. Guess Again


Years ago there was great optimism in Christian leadership about the internet. There were countless articles about how the net would allow the gospel to be spread far and wide. Those in charge thought the net was like the traveling evangelist or the Christian TV evangelist. They made it easy to click on Bible verses or past sermons.

Now a reality is setting in. The net is harming Christianity. Before the net Christianity appeared everywhere there were already newspapers, TV, books and magazines. There was so much access to Christian propaganda it might have been impossible to pound in more. Where the internet excelled was in non-Christian or anti- Christion information. Besides information that challenged the faith, it offered entertainment that competed against spending time in church. This latter is now being recognized and the faithful are being warned to limit their use of the net. 

That Christian leadership did not see this coming is in some ways astounding. Yet, if they themselves have been blinded by the reality of the weak case they make one can understand why they would have a completely incorrect prediction of how the net would affect the faith. If the message has nothing new and interesting, and was slipping before the net, why would it appeal in the new medium?

What has flourished is communities on the net who do not believe tenets of the faith. When the priest/preacher preaches and the listener can sneak a look at the net while still sitting in church to learn the preacher is incorrect, do you think this person will be a believer?

The weakest part of the faith is its claim to historical events for which the only source is the Bible. This is also the part most easily challenged by those in the pews. Really, the faith would be wise to not claim the stories of Jesus are historical events. As soon as the make such claims they are easily challenged. The faithful should say, "This story about Jesus is part of our tradition by the event may never have happened." This would include the crucifixion, resurrection and all the miracles.

Saying things that turn out not to be true, then asking for money to continue saying them, is not a sustainable model during the time of the internet. 

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