Will the Internet Kill Christianity?

[Road Warrior]

I doubt it.

"For knowledge itself is a power" -- Sir Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae (1597)

Note that his complaint is regarding "rejecting Christian fundamentalism", not God, religion in general or even Christianity.

RELEVANT Magazine - Will the Internet Kill Christianity?

What has changed everything?” Christian apologist Josh McDowell asked his audience on July 15 at the Billy Graham Center in Asheville, N.C. His talk, titled “Unshakeable Truth, Relevant Faith,” had detailed a certain uncomfortable fact in anticipation of the question: that young Christians in America are rejecting Christian fundamentalism—and doctrinaire concepts such as absolute truth and biblical infallibility—in droves. Why is faith in God being supplanted, earlier and earlier, by relativism, secularism and skepticism? McDowell’s answer was simple: the Internet.

Of course, his response touched off an immediate flurry of online activity—much of it from skeptics. “Does he or does he not think Christianity can win in the marketplace of ideas?” one atheist blogger asked. “Either you can handle the arguments or you can't. You're just whinning [sic] because you can't.” The highest-rated responses to the story at The Christian Post, among the first outlets to pick it up, joined the gasconade:

“Christianity does poorly when it doesn't control the entire message and allows people a free exchange of thought? What a freaking shock.”

 

[Sunstone]

I don't think the internet is a danger to Christianity, but it might well be a danger to fundamentalism. Fundamentalism seems to thrive on isolation. To the extent that the internet allows people to encounter a bigger world, it could be a danger to the isolation that fundamentalism seems to thrive on.

 

[Road Warrior]

Agreed, which explains why many Fundamentalist groups lock themselves up in communes.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

The internet is essentially the battle grounds of memes, and it looks like a few Christian-associated memes are losing.

 

[Road Warrior]

I presume along with other highly dogmatic memes which conflict with well-known fact.

 

[Shermana]

Most "Christian" pastors and authorities do their best to hide and ignore the scholarship from their audiences, the internet is making available what used to be only known mainstream among "Theological schools" . "Christianity" as an institution is now facing a point where their feet are approaching the fire faster than they ever realized it would, and many people are going to bail when they realize the deliberaetly dishonest attempts to conceal the other points of view that have been pulled.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I think the rise in fundamentalism is somewhat driven by modern global communication. Our postmodern world no longer consists of separate, isolated cultures with mythological frameworks that support the individual in her or his life journey. Instead, our lives are driven by speedy communication and information that is not rooted in a particular identity. The individual must choose his or her own map from which they can navigate their lives.

Fundamentalism appears to be a reaction to this; an attempt to hold on to a root that may already be withered and unable to provide any real nourishment--unless the individual can revive it with her or his own new and unique identity.

 

[Road Warrior]

Well said, GC. Agreed Fundamentalism appears to be a reaction. I'll have to research it more.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Most "Christian" pastors and authorities do their best to hide and ignore the scholarship from their audiences, the internet is making available what used to be only known mainstream among "Theological schools" . "Christianity" as an institution is now facing a point where their feet are approaching the fire faster than they ever realized it would, and many people are going to bail when they realize the deliberaetly dishonest attempts to conceal the other points of view that have been pulled.

The dishonesty plays a large role as well as increased education and knowledge that diminishes Christianity to the point that it is. I take it as being a good thing in light that it's painful to face real truths. I speak as an ex-Christian who left as a result of internet research and conversations with people who were undergoing the same things. The internet allows information up to date in an instant whereas in the past you would need transportation and access permissions to gather what can be accessed in a few clicks of the mouse with little trouble. Now intellectual dishonesty stands out like a sore thumb.

From my experiences, the religion just did not "click" anymore.

 

[Road Warrior]

I see it as more about sticking one's head in the sand than dishonesty.

The Fundamentalists are afraid and fear does some funny things to people.

 

[Shermana]

I see it as more about sticking one's head in the sand than dishonesty.

The Fundamentalists are afraid and fear does some funny things to people.

You have to be dishonest to stick your head in the sand in the face of the raw facts and studies on the subject, right?

Even if you disagree with what the scholars say, to just avoid them or write them off without addressing their claims or, when they DO address their claims, without addressing them logically and with counterfacts, you have to be at least moderately dishonest to attempt to steer clear of the opposing arguments and to try to shield others from being exposed to them.

 

[Me Myself]

You have to be dishonest to stick your head in the sand in the face of the raw facts and studies on the subject, right?

Dishonest with yourself.

what you say to other people is result of you having lied to yourself in the first place. So the person itself is the first victim.

 

[Shermana]

The dishonesty plays a large role as well as increased education and knowledge that diminishes Christianity to the point that it is. I take it as being a good thing in light that it's painful to face real truths. I speak as an ex-Christian who left as a result of internet research and conversations with people who were undergoing the same things. The internet allows information up to date in an instant whereas in the past you would need transportation and access permissions to gather what can be accessed in a few clicks of the mouse with little trouble. Now intellectual dishonesty stands out like a sore thumb.

From my experiences, the religion just did not "click" anymore.

I'd be interested to know what kind of information you learned that caused you to become an "Ex-Christian". Even as a Messianic Jew, I wish most "Christians" would leave their abominable "Churches" and theologies and embrace the world of scholarship to eventually be able to make a true decision and not a brainwashed pastor-spoonfed one.

 

[Shermana]

Dishonest with yourself.

what you say to other people is result of you having lied to yourself in the first place. So the person itself is the first victim.

I agree, however, the "leaders" of the community you have to admit are being deliberately dishonest in the extreme by virtually avoiding the scholarship altogether on the scriptures and thus, to the flock, it's like a whole undiscovered world when they first get into it. Or worse, lying about the scholarship when confronted with it.

 

[Me Myself]

I agree, however, the "leaders" of the community you have to admit are being deliberately dishonest in the extreme by virtually avoiding the scholarship altogether on the scriptures and thus, to the flock, it's like a whole undiscovered world when they first get into it. Or worse, lying about the scholarship when confronted with it.

What can I tell you? I would out any specific one that I saw, but I don't expect much from them from then on.

Arguing back is the best you can do. Hopefully, they'll eventually wake up, but they are just part of their victims.

Now, if they are lying about their scholarship, isn't that in some form ilegal? cause I would totally back up prosecution.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I believe what presents the greatest threat to Christianity is the ability for Christians to read the bible without having a clear understanding of what is:

• Considered to be intended to be take literally
• Considered to be intended to be take metaphorically (and the metaphors intended)
• Considered having been altered
• Considered having been made up

Atheism merely serves as a catalyst.

 

[Shermana]

What can I tell you? I would out any specific one that I saw, but I don't expect much from them from then on.

Arguing back is the best you can do. Hopefully, they'll eventually wake up, but they are just part of their victims.

Now, if they are lying about their scholarship, isn't that in some form ilegal? cause I would totally back up prosecution.

I would be dancing a victory war dance if the day came that it was illegal for Church Pastors to lie about the texts and the scholarship.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Spread that across all religions and I will learn HOW to dance and then join you (I will learn purely for the sake of dancing that day).

 

[F0uad]

It works both ways if you tell me one can be more educated or one can lose entire faith but this is not only for Christianity.

 

[Road Warrior]

You have to be dishonest to stick your head in the sand in the face of the raw facts and studies on the subject, right?

Even if you disagree with what the scholars say, to just avoid them or write them off without addressing their claims or, when they DO address their claims, without addressing them logically and with counterfacts, you have to be at least moderately dishonest to attempt to steer clear of the opposing arguments and to try to shield others from being exposed to them.

People perceive many things differently due to personal bias. I cannot call that "dishonest" if they are simply reacting out of fear to something.

If you repeatedly lecture a city kid about the danger of poisonous snakes on a nature path then give them a gun and send them down that path, are they being dishonest when they shoot a piece of rope curled up next to a tree on the path? They are afraid. That fear distorts their perceptions. Fundamentalists, either theist or atheist, are highly biased to begin with so their perceptions are distorted. Even someone who strives to be fearless and relaxed can't be 100% sure they are perceiving the world correctly. This is why the Scientific Method was developed; to overcome honest mistakes in perception.