Thou Shalt Blog: Pope Benedict

The Tech age commandment says: Thou shalt find it, if thou seek it on the Internet. Pope Benedict XVI is now urging priests to increase their presence on the Internet by becoming more active online.
 
A year ago the Pope had warned against excessive use of Facebook. But, lately the Pope has become quite active online. Now, the Pope is calling priests to go online. You may find more priests on Facebook and Twitter than in Churches. While it might be a bit hard for old priests to pick up the new 'Internet' habits, the younger generation of priests will be well-versed with the usage of the Internet.
 
The Pope said in his statement: "The spread of multimedia communications and its rich 'menu of options' might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled. Yet priests can rightly be expected to be present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different 'voices' provided by the digital marketplace. Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis."
 
It is good that the Pope has started to appreciate the evolution and growth of science and technology. However, this call may lead to similar calls from other religious leaders to increase their voice and presence on the Internet.

It is feared that the Internet might soon become the next stage of religious endorsement and conflict. Soon we may see a surge in religious websites on the Internet. The Blog-sphere may soon become a battleground of religious crusades with bloggers claiming their religion is the best.  It is often hard to control biased and malice opinions on the Internet.

However, given that new age communication tools and the Internet is another means of interaction, people from any faith and belief are free to use it for sharing their ideas and thoughts.  Perhaps the Internet will build more bridges than boundaries among religious groups. Perhaps the Internet may become a base for the religion of mutual respect; and equality of all humans.

Thou shalt not log out!