May 10 Class Notes--- Christianity in a Digital Age

Church in the Digital Age

84% of Adults in the US use the Internet

-       There are some use differences based upon class, race, age, education level. But gaps is narrowing in the case of race

-       Gender parity is the norm in internet usage

-       Today 2/3 (64%) of adults in the US have a smartphone. This is up form 11% in 2011

A little historical context

-       The Christina church has often been shaped by the adoption of new media

o   Dominican public preaching (13^th century) – altering the power of the clergy

o   Printing Press (1440)- Protestant Reformation (1517)

§  Sola scriptura “by scripture alone”

o   Radio (early 20^th cent) – evangelical Christianity

o   Television (mid-late 20^th century) – evangelical Christianity

Billy Graham- The New Media Pioneer

-       Born 1918

-       Ordained Southern Baptist

-       1947: Starts his “crusades”

o   Over 400 in his lifetime

o   185 countries

o   6 continents

o   Many televised

-       1949: Raises o media prominence as an evangelist with circus tent revivals in LA

-       1950-54: Hour of Decision Radio show

-       1951: Stars World Wide Pictures

o   Over 130 Christian Films

-       1956 Starts a magazine, Christianity Today

-       2012: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association shifts its focus to online evangelism. In 2014 BEGA reached 7.5 million through their websites.

-       An audience of 2.2 billion people worldwide over his lifetime

Vatican II: Making a Way for Online Religion

-       1962-65

-       Sought to articulate the relationship between the Catholic Church and the modern world

-       One of the most notable changes from Latin to the vernacular

-       Celebration of Mass facing the congregation

-       More acceptances of modern styles of music, art, ect.

-       Emphasis on the importance of knowing Scripture. 

Religion Online v. Online Religion

-       Providing information about religion v opportunity to participate in religious activity

-       Reference to offline activities v religious activities that take place online

Religion and Social Media

-       According to a 2014 Pew Survey on Religion and social media

o   One in five individuals share their faith on social media every week

o   Nearly half of American adults see someone share their faith online every week

Does all this mean that people aren’t going to church

-       Online religion does not mean a decline in participation in face to race religion

So, who is using this stuff?

-White evangelical s and black Protestants are more likely than other groups o engage in some form of electronic religious activity.