Saturday, August 22, 1998

Religion has big presence on Internet

By BRIAN BETHEL / Staff Writer

Want to find religion on the Internet? It's easy.

A simple search can bring up literally hundreds of sites dealing with every aspect of human spirituality.

Mainstream churches and alternative faiths alike are making use of the Net's accessibility to make their message known, said Tom Dolan, system administrator for the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University.

"Many religious organizations are seeing it as a very valuable addition to their existing ministries," he said. "It's not a primary avenue, but it is a very useful secondary way to get people interested in their message."

After some resistence, even big-name religious figures like Billy Graham are coming into the Cybernetic fold, he said.

"I work in close contact with many religious organizations, and there is finally an understanding on their part of how important the Internet is to some people," Dolan said. "Suddenly, not having a presence on the Net has become a negative thing."

For Mike Greenfield, Young Adult Minister at Abilene's First Baptist Church and primary designer of the church's Web site, religious groups who don't embrace the Internet are in serious danger of being left behind.

"The way I see it, we're building a foundation for the future," he said. "The key is information, both for those who are already members and those who may be new to the area or seeking to learn about our church. I don't think we've seen a lot of feedback from it yet, but in time, I believe that will change."

THE WAY OF THE WEB

It isn't just so-called "mainstream" faiths, such as traditional Christianity or the tenets of Islam or Judaism, that are embracing the Internet, though.

Whether your interest lies in Buddhism, Taoism, Wiccanism, Sufism or just about any other "ism" out there, there are generally plenty of sites to sate your quest for knowledge.

Mark Kellner, computer columnist for the Washington Times and author of the soon-to-be-reprinted book God on the Internet, said that the Net has two great advantages for spiritual seekers - it's always open, and it's more-or-less anonymous.

"Your average church or local religious discussion group isn't open or meeting at 2 a.m.," he said. "But the Internet is. You can connect to whatever community or area of belief you want to be a part of at any time of the day or night."

The rapid search capabilities and the sheer amount of information available make the Net "the world's largest smorgasbord" of information for religious seekers, Kellner said.

A sense of free exploration is what sets the Internet apart from other mediums and largely helps to explain its appeal for those looking for religious information, said Joyce Gioia, a North Carolina futurist, management consultant and ordained minister who often performs multi-faith weddings.

"For someone who is seeking like-minded individuals or those who want to explore different belief systems it can be invaluable," she said. "The amount of information available is perfect for fostering that type of exploration, even if you are just looking for information and not planning to practice - at least, not yet."

A SITE SHINING IN THE DARKNESS

Increasingly, the Internet may be the first point of contact someone has with an individual faith - a faith they may end up adopting.

Tammy Todd, Alternative Religions Guide with The Mining Co., a large collection of on-line information about a variety of topics, said that the Internet can serve multiple purposes in the lives of the religious seeker.

"If someone is uncertain about their faith or looking for an organized religion that conforms to their personal beliefs, then they can find many resources that offer overviews of a multitude of religious practices," Todd, who has been a practicing neopagan for seven years, wrote in an e-mail correspondence.

"If, however, that person is content with their faith and is simply looking for like-minded groups within the Internet community, they, too, can find any number of resources."

Melody Templeton, a member and contact person for the Diamond Way Buddhist Centers in the Houston and Clear Lake, said that the Internet was essential to her decision to explore the Buddhist tradition.

"I think it's helpful for people, especially if they are wanting to look into something locally at some point," she said. "... The information available is almost overwhelming."

The Internet seems to be a tool the curious or the questing are not afraid to use, Templeton said.

"Our phone number, for example, isn't listed yet, but we still get a few calls a week," she said. "We know people are using the Web site, because that's the only place someone can find our number."

In her own walk toward enlightenment, Templeton, who has been studying Buddhism for about a year now, said she more-or-less immediately turned to the Web and almost as quickly found the information she was looking for.

"If I had been forced to go to the library or seek out information in a traditional way, I may not have ever come to this point in my life," she said. "I think the Internet is going to make a big difference in the way people undertake their own spiritual journey."

THEORY OF EVOLUTION

"Cyberchurches," boasting on-line congregations, are already here to a certain degree, Kellner said. And they will continue to grow in number as the Internet continues to expand.

"The interesting thing with these online communities is that they are a great way to keep in touch with your faith," he said. "If, for example, you are ill and unable to attend church services regularly, it is a way to stay close and maintain that sense of fellowship."

Kellner said one example he had heard of was an Orthodox Jewish scientist, stationed at Antarctica doing research, who stayed in touch with his religious community through the Internet.

The contact enriched his spiritual life and also helped him answer some vexing questions posed by his position - such as when to light ceremonial candles traditionally lit at sunset.

The sun doesn't set in that particular part of the world for months at a time.

"The Internet became an aid during that time, and it kept him actively practicing his faith," Kellner said. "Most examples aren't that extreme, but it does show what a valuable tool it can be."

Greenfield and Gioia both said there will always be a place for "real" contact with those of like beliefs, but recognized that the Internet can be part of a valid religious experience.

"There is no substitute for the exchange of energy that is generated when people assemble," Gioia said. "The group doesn't have to be large for it to happen. You don't get that same sort of connection with people on the Internet, in my opinion. The degree of connectedness is so much greater when you are able to come together, talk and worship."

Greenfield said that as good as the Web is for disseminating information quickly, it cannot replace the togetherness that a traditional religious gathering can foster.

"In my mind, the fellowship of religion is something that you can't replace," he said. "To truly experience the community of a church, you need to be there in it. But as a way to reach out to people and keep them informed, it's a marvelous tool."

GLOBAL POSITIONING

In Dolan's opinion, religious institutions and groups that do not have a presence on the Internet may soon be left behind.

"Right now, it's not too late to catch up," he said. "But eventually, it will be fairly difficult. Those who got in earlier can be swept along by the learning curve much easier than a group that is just now starting to make a presence on the Net."

Although the primary demographics of the Internet are still somewhat limited, that is changing, Dolan said. And as more acceptance comes, the more religious organizations - especially larger groups - without Internet presences will be seen as unusual.

"I've seen some very large ministries that shied away from the Internet when it first appeared starting to embrace it," he said. "They recognize what a valuable resource it is, both them and for those they serve."

Kellner believes that the continued growth of religion on the Internet is inevitable.

"This isn't going away, not by any stretch of the imagination," he said. "You are going to see far more religious information on-line than ever, along with many more people looking at it as a source of both knowledge and personal growth."

Although he is not a "universalist," Kellner said that one of the best functions of this new web is allowing individuals to find a personal faith that works for them, while fostering understanding and respect for others.

'I work to understand people whose beliefs are different from mine," he said. "That means seeing what we have in common, as well as the valuable contributions made to our society whole by those of other belief systems. The list is vast."

The Internet has the potential to function as a "great leveler," Kellner said. By using the resources the Internet has available to learn about others, tolerance and respect can replace misinformation.

"The Internet is a tool that can give us much empathy and understanding if we are willing to use it to those ends," he said. "I'm not saying the Internet is going to make all of us better, more understanding people, but for those who want to use it to learn about the beliefs of others it is a marvelous resource.

"Prejudice is much more difficult to maintain in the light of factual data."