Comments on: The disaggregated divine http://snarkmarket.com/2009/3863 The stomping grounds of Tim Carmody, Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson. It's a long-running conversation about media, journalism, technology, cities, culture, design, books, music, movies, the future and the past. Tue, 14 May 2013 15:49:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: The Church of First Produce « Snarkmarket http://snarkmarket.com/2009/3863/comment-page-1#comment-6713 The Church of First Produce « Snarkmarket Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:14:27 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=3863#comment-6713 [...] look­ing at how the inter­net is chang­ing churches; Mark Bittman looks at how the inter­net ought to be chang­ing the real spir­i­tual cen­ter of [...] […] look­ing at how the inter­net is chang­ing churches; Mark Bittman looks at how the inter­net ought to be chang­ing the real spir­i­tual cen­ter of […]

]]> By: Saheli http://snarkmarket.com/2009/3863/comment-page-1#comment-6709 Saheli Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:45:55 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=3863#comment-6709 I think the thing that has really blown my mind on this front are Skype-based multi-continental reading/discussion/singing groups. There is something really disorienting about eating dinner with someone and having them drop references to "it's like so-and-so was saying <i>in lecture</i>," or "I got this new tune for that song from so-and-so" when the so-and-so's involved live half way around the world, and until a few weeks ago such references would have certainly meant there was a physical program. The other thing that has blown my mind are cell phone videos of pilgrimages. I think the fact that so many Indians have cell phone video cameras has effectively forced priests to stop excluding cameras, so suddenly all these ancient places are opening up to photography, but there's also something about a cell phone video that makes you feel the crowds more---plus everyone else in the video is also taking a video. I don't think that it will ever compete with "real life"---if anything, watching those videos has me browsing ticket prices. But I do think that it can make diasporas feel less lonely, and can provide a lot of comfort to the homebound, which is pretty magical. I think the thing that has really blown my mind on this front are Skype-based multi-continental reading/discussion/singing groups. There is something really disorienting about eating dinner with someone and having them drop references to “it’s like so-and-so was saying in lecture,” or “I got this new tune for that song from so-and-so” when the so-and-so’s involved live half way around the world, and until a few weeks ago such references would have certainly meant there was a physical program.

The other thing that has blown my mind are cell phone videos of pilgrimages. I think the fact that so many Indians have cell phone video cameras has effectively forced priests to stop excluding cameras, so suddenly all these ancient places are opening up to photography, but there’s also something about a cell phone video that makes you feel the crowds more—plus everyone else in the video is also taking a video.

I don’t think that it will ever compete with “real life”—if anything, watching those videos has me browsing ticket prices. But I do think that it can make diasporas feel less lonely, and can provide a lot of comfort to the homebound, which is pretty magical.

]]> By: Bethany http://snarkmarket.com/2009/3863/comment-page-1#comment-6708 Bethany Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:39:25 +0000 http://snarkmarket.com/?p=3863#comment-6708 Thanks for these links. This is a discussion I have a lot of interest in too. I study communication, and am very invested in questions of church and worship. I'll check in on the rest of that series, that guy seems on the same track as me. In general, I say this about virtual church: things it has: the ability to talk to other people and get to know them personally and intimately. (some) accountability. probably enables discussion more than physical church. also makes life easier for people who might be disabled or ugly or bad-smelling or not dressed well. things it doesn't have: potlucks. body and blood. hugs. based on these arguments, virtual church is superior to megachurch, inferior to small local church. But I can imagine situations where it might be the best thing going. Thanks for these links. This is a discussion I have a lot of interest in too. I study communication, and am very invested in questions of church and worship. I’ll check in on the rest of that series, that guy seems on the same track as me.

In general, I say this about virtual church:
things it has: the ability to talk to other people and get to know them personally and intimately. (some) accountability. probably enables discussion more than physical church. also makes life easier for people who might be disabled or ugly or bad-smelling or not dressed well.
things it doesn’t have: potlucks. body and blood. hugs.

based on these arguments, virtual church is superior to megachurch, inferior to small local church. But I can imagine situations where it might be the best thing going.

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