Comments on: Is Twitter the New Town Square? An Introduction to Spirituality and Social Media http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/spirituality-and-social-media/is-twitter-the-new-town-square-an-introduction-to-spirituality-and-social-media/ Perspective on life less restricted Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 By: Matt http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/spirituality-and-social-media/is-twitter-the-new-town-square-an-introduction-to-spirituality-and-social-media/#comment-260 Matt Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:54:29 +0000 http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/?p=1318#comment-260 Benjamin - you hit the nail right on the head here. The value that social media tools really brings to faith and practicing religion is in being able to establish that intimate connection with people you wouldn't normally be able to. It adds a 'human' aspect to faith - no longer are pastors and preachers seen as unreachable and incommunicable, thanks to blogs and other social media outlets, we're able to establish a close connection with our spiritual guides. Benjamin – you hit the nail right on the head here. The value that social media tools really brings to faith and practicing religion is in being able to establish that intimate connection with people you wouldn’t normally be able to. It adds a ‘human’ aspect to faith – no longer are pastors and preachers seen as unreachable and incommunicable, thanks to blogs and other social media outlets, we’re able to establish a close connection with our spiritual guides.

]]> By: Benjamin Wilcox http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/spirituality-and-social-media/is-twitter-the-new-town-square-an-introduction-to-spirituality-and-social-media/#comment-254 Benjamin Wilcox Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:46:07 +0000 http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/?p=1318#comment-254 I think this is an important point that you make with this post. Most people who attack the Christian faith, whether it be Catholic or Protestant, will attack the hierarchy of religion. In my opinion, what is much more important is the bonds that people form in church and discussions about the bible that come from those bonds. Social media allows for the formation of those bonds with people who we normally wouldn't meet face to face. This blog post is a great example of just that. I will be looking forward to the next post. I think this is an important point that you make with this post. Most people who attack the Christian faith, whether it be Catholic or Protestant, will attack the hierarchy of religion. In my opinion, what is much more important is the bonds that people form in church and discussions about the bible that come from those bonds. Social media allows for the formation of those bonds with people who we normally wouldn’t meet face to face. This blog post is a great example of just that. I will be looking forward to the next post.

]]> By: gavin richardson http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/spirituality-and-social-media/is-twitter-the-new-town-square-an-introduction-to-spirituality-and-social-media/#comment-175 gavin richardson Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:21:29 +0000 http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/?p=1318#comment-175 kristin, you are right on with the continued need for physical interaction. people need their hug and affirmation. one thing that has been neat is that i have been writing actual letters to people over Lent. that seems to have done more for uplifting people & encouraging them to get more involved than any email or blog posting i've ever done (that i know of). which will lead to some other conversations into this series. your investment in someone is perceived by the tool used. good point to say, 'how & when' used. you can have 'too much of a good thing' or in other words, extremes of a technology tool can turn on you & actually give you an opposite result that you were wanting. kristin, you are right on with the continued need for physical interaction. people need their hug and affirmation.

one thing that has been neat is that i have been writing actual letters to people over Lent. that seems to have done more for uplifting people & encouraging them to get more involved than any email or blog posting i’ve ever done (that i know of). which will lead to some other conversations into this series. your investment in someone is perceived by the tool used.

good point to say, ‘how & when’ used. you can have ‘too much of a good thing’ or in other words, extremes of a technology tool can turn on you & actually give you an opposite result that you were wanting.

]]> By: Kristin T. (@kt_writes) http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/spirituality-and-social-media/is-twitter-the-new-town-square-an-introduction-to-spirituality-and-social-media/#comment-168 Kristin T. (@kt_writes) Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:24:39 +0000 http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/?p=1318#comment-168 This is a great post. It's interesting that we tend to think of social media innovations as brand-new ideas, but they're actually just new technologies that help us get back to really old ways of doing things. Sharing advice. Getting recommendations from people we trust. Spreading the news via word of mouth. I love how you've applied this idea to "social spirituality," a format for making sense of our faith through community. My sense is that social media can be a "perfect partner" to faith, as long as we are vigilant about how and when it is used. The focus on telling our faith stories is hugely important--we can share stories with more people through these avenues. We just need to remember how important face-to-face interaction is, for demonstrating our faith through action. This is a great post. It’s interesting that we tend to think of social media innovations as brand-new ideas, but they’re actually just new technologies that help us get back to really old ways of doing things. Sharing advice. Getting recommendations from people we trust. Spreading the news via word of mouth.

I love how you’ve applied this idea to “social spirituality,” a format for making sense of our faith through community. My sense is that social media can be a “perfect partner” to faith, as long as we are vigilant about how and when it is used.

The focus on telling our faith stories is hugely important–we can share stories with more people through these avenues. We just need to remember how important face-to-face interaction is, for demonstrating our faith through action.

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