Digital Friendships, Digital Community

To say that the internet has changed the way that we live would certainly be an understatement. In particular I was thinking about how the social functions of the internet--social networking, blogging, chat rooms, gaming, online-dating, etc--are changing the ways that people think about friendship and community. For some people, the internet simply serves as an "extention" to their pre-existing relationships; meaning, the internet allows them to keep up with family and friends that they have that are outside of the www. Although the internet is useful for them, it isn't the primary place where they experience friendship or community. Yet, for others, the world of the internet has become their community. They may actually put forth effort and time into these "digital friendships" than their flesh-and-blood relationships. Many of their "friends" are made up of people that they have never met face-to-face. So, what makes this type of "digital community" so attractive to people? Here two reasons that came to mind.

First, digital communities allow people to put their best foot forward. In these communities, it is much easier for people to hide the parts of their lives that they do not want others to see. Of course, this can happen in flesh-and-blood relationships, but it is far easier to do this on the internet because people are less likely to catch you when you have your guard down. For example, you can chose to post only the pictures that make you look beautiful, not the ones that make you look overweight or unattractive. If you're in a bad mood, you don't have to "log on" and chat with anyone.

Second, digital friendships are much easier to leave behind when they get messy. If someone irritates you in a chat room, you can say what you want and never return. If someone begins to annoy you on Facebook, you can delete them as your friend.

So, what's my point? I certainly do not object to participating in the various social functions available through the internet. My concern comes when these "digital communities" essentially replace flesh-and-blood relationships. In many ways, the internet can de-personalize our relationships; meaning, the internet doesn't allow others to recognize changes in our moods, see our facial expressions, hear the tone of our voices, or read our body language.We need friends that can know us--truly know us.

Reading Calvin

A few days ago marked the 500th birthday of John Calvin. Many scholars, pastors, and others took time to celebrate in Geneva. Well, I certainly didn't have the time (or resources) to make my way to Geneva. Instead, I decided to celebrate by reading through some of Calvin's sermons. Sadly, I believe that many people have the wrong idea about Calvin. Some think of Calvin as an unloving and dry theologian, yet Calvin's love for God and concern for God's people is evident throughout his writings. His theology is certainly deep, but it isn't divorced from an equally deep piety. Here's an excerpt from the sermon I read this morning on Deuteronomy 4:44-5:3:

For if God only demanded his due, we should still be required to cling to him and to confine ourselves to his commandments. Moreover, when it pleases him by his infinite goodness to enter into a common treaty, and when he mutually binds himself to us without having to do so, when he enumerates that treaty article by article, when he chooses to be our father and savior, when he receives us as his flock and his inheritance, let us abide under his protection, filled with his eternal love for us....When the living God humbles himself to that extent, I beg of you, should we not be more than ingrates if we did not humble ourselves before him and abstain from all pride and arrogance? (taken from John Calvin's Sermons on the Ten Commandments by Benjamin W. Farley, 45-46)

Listening to Theology

In the old days, when there was less education and discussion, perhaps it was possible to get on with a very few simple ideas about God. But it is not so now. Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed. Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones--bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas.

--C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 3.1

"We now return to our regularly scheduled programming."

Vacation is over, so I'm now ready to reenter the world of blogging.

Low Tech, Part-Time

Since our family is enjoying some time away for vacation, my blogging will be reduced over the next week. I usually try to go "low tech," so that I can avoid the things that often distract me: internet, cell phone, etc.