Online religion is, too often, religion which has been made to accommodate modern needs: entertaining, predictable, controlled, convenient, efficient, etc. Online shrines are to real religious pilgrimages what McDonald’s is to a fine restaurant — a simple, easy, cheap, and efficient means to an end, but not necessarily the best end. It may leave you feeling satisfied, but does it leave you feeling really fulfilled?
Brasher, co-chair of New Religions Movement Group of the American Academy of Religion, is very optimistic about the prospects of religion on the internet and makes no secret of the fact that she is very positive about religion in general. Although her optimism may, generally speaking, be warranted, I find that at times it is not entirely justified.
For example, she argues that religion should be helping us to address new ethical dilemmas which arise in cyberspace, but that they simply have not done so yet. I question whether or not they can be expected to do so — after all, ancient ethical codes don’t always help when it comes to solving ancient problems, let alone such modern ones.
Brasher also doesn’t take the time to address what, if any, effects online atheism may have. People can be much more vocal about their disbelief online than they will be in “real life.” And, very often, the only other atheists some people really meet are online. Even many believers first encounter atheism and sustained religious critique online because it simply isn’t “polite” for people to be vocal about such things in other circumstances.
Will any of that have an effect on people’s religiosity in the long run? Will these critiques help make people more skeptical about religious claims, causing them to be less devout religiously, or even to give up religion entirely? Will online religion sites feel the pressure of competition and critique from sites discussing atheism or other religions, forcing them to change or improve their message?
Religion online is certainly good for people looking for information - they can possibly find more there than is available at the local library, and more easily, too. But included in that “more” are dark and disturbing sites, not to mention a wealth of misinformation. Apocalyptic beliefs are especially prevalent on the internet, which has become an international soapbox for even the strangest cults.
This book will be of interest to both people interested in religious behavior and those studying the web phenomenon. I don’t agree with all of her conclusions, but her research does reveal a lot important information.
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