C. Lacy Thompson, LBM Associate Editor
A new report takes a look at the rise of ‘religion
surfers’ and what their growing use of the Internet could mean for churches
Much has been written – and rightly so – about the
perils and dangers of the wild, wild world of the World Wide Web.
However, the truth is that the Internet also is proving to
be a source of spiritual knowledge for many people.
First Church of the Internet? A new report takes a look at the rise of ‘religion
surfers’ and what their growing use of the Internet could mean for churches
Much has been written – and rightly so – about the
perils and dangers of the wild, wild world of the World Wide Web.
However, the truth is that the Internet also is proving to
be a source of spiritual knowledge for many people.
Indeed, an estimated 28 million Americans can be classified
as “religion surfers,” having tapped the Internet for religious/spiritual
information, the Pew Internet and American Life project recently reported.
That number is up some 9 million in the past year, the recently-released
report notes. And some 3 million people use the Internet on a daily basis to
obtain spiritual information, an increase of 1 million from the previous year.
And just to make the point clearer – a full one-fourth
of all Internet users have used the Web to access religious or spiritual information
at some point.
“Spiritual browsing is a more popular online activity
than online gambling, which has only been sampled by about 5 percent of the
Internet population,” the Pew Internet report notes. “The act of searching
for spiritual material online has also been done by more Americans than have
traded stocks or bonds or mutual funds online or done online banking or participated
in online auctions or used Internet-based dating services or placed phone calls
online. …
“Whether (persons) need advice on fine points of canonical
law, special music for a service, ideas for devotional study, material for a
religious class, support in prayer or simply a spirited debate that they cannot
introduce in their own circle of friends, they can find it all in the glow of
an Internet-connected monitor.”
Indeed, despite all the dangers, the Internet offers religion
surfers what the Pew Internet report characterizes as “a lush spiritual
plain.”
For instance, one who visits the directory of one popular Internet
search engine finds almost 88,000 Web sites listed under religion and spirituality.
Surprisingly, that is 15,000 more listings than is indicated for adult image
galleries in the online search directory.
Almost 62,000 of the religion sites are related to Christianity,
corresponding to the 91 percent of religion surfers who are Christian. However,
surfers also can find pages dedicated to everything from agnosticism to the
occult to pantheism to reincarnation to yoga to Zoroastrianism, not to mention
sites for the major religions of the world.
Once into the Christianity director, the variety continues,
with a surfer able to locate sites on topics ranging from apologetics to evangelism
to prayer to shopping to theology. There also are sites listed as “Christianity
for seekers.”
And yes, one can find anything from Bible quizzes to Christian
humor to religious role-playing games to reports on near-death encounters with
Jesus.
But one also can find helpful and educational sites, the Pew
Internet report notes. Indeed, the report indicated the top activities of religion
surfers are looking for information on ones own faith or another faith,
e-mailing prayer requests, downloading religious music and giving spiritual
advice. (See accompanying graph)
The report also notes that such activities have increased since
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America. Indeed, events of that day led millions
of Internet users “to turn to religious issues and concerns online,”
the report notes.
Specifically:
41 percent of Internet users said they sent or
received e-mail prayer requests, including many persons who never had considered
themselves online spiritual seekers.
23 percent of Internet users turned to online sources
for information on Islam.
7 percent of Internet users contributed to relief
charities online.
So, who are these “religion surfers,” and is the
Internet becoming a new church to compete with local – and more physical
– congregations?
Christian researcher George Barna has warned of that possibility,
predicting that the Internet will change the nature of Christian worship in
very fundamental ways. Barna has predicted that millions of people soon will
find their only faith community through the Internet, including many who drop
out of physical churches in preference for a cyber one.
In contrast, the Pew Internet report offers evidence of religion
surfers who use the Internet as an accessory to the faith they nurture through
more traditional means.
There is no doubting religion surfers are committed believers,
the Pew Internet report indicates.
Indeed, 81 percent of religion surfers described their faith
as “very strong,” compared to 61 percent of the American public who
hold to the same view.
Also, 74 percent of religion surfers said they attend religious
services at least once a week, compared to the 26 percent to 39 percent of Americans
in general who do so.
And 86 percent of religion surfers say they pray or meditate
at least once a day, compared to the 54 percent of Americans who say they pray
that often and the 23 percent who report meditating each day.
“The (religion surfer) audience is varied – (and)
most combine their online life with that of their own religious communities,
seeking fuller comprehension and experience of their faiths,” the Pew Internet
report explains.
“Some have long ago left their churches, synagogues, or
temples, but still use the Internet to pursue their own spiritual needs. Some
have changed faiths and seek out new information. Some feel isolated for their
beliefs and find communion with others in cyberspace where they cannot find
it in their own neighborhoods. …
“The picture is as rich and varied as religious life itself.”
Overall, the Pew Internet report breaks religion surfers into
four distinct categories:
Active seekers, who spend time tracking down
religious or spiritual content several times a week.
Converts, who have moved from one faith to another
and use the Internet to surf for religious material, especially resources that
are educational in nature.
Community members, who belong to a congregation
or worship group and find the Internet as a helpful tool for such things as
giving spiritual advice and making prayer requests.
Outsiders, who belong to a religious minority and
use the Internet as a means of connecting with their faith and with other adherents
of that faith.
By and far, community members make up the majority of religion
surfers, the Pew Internet report notes. However, regardless of the categories,
religion surfers generally see the Internet as “a useful supplement tool
that enhances their already-deep commitment to their beliefs and their churches,”
the report explains.
For instance, while 92 percent of religion surfers report giving
to their own places of worship, only about 7 percent say they have made religious
donations to a religious organization they located via the Internet.
Indeed, of seven activities, religion surfers only identify
one as easier to do online rather than offline – and that is finding educational
or study materials.
Strong majorities of surfers agree the other activities are
easier to do offline – and those include such things as finding prayer
and devotional resources, finding people who share ones beliefs, pursuing
volunteer opportunities, participating in spiritual discussions and religious
services and interacting with clergy.
But that is not to say the Internet is not benefiting believers.
Overall, about 27 percent of religion surfers report the World Wide Web has
helped improve their faith lives.
Even more see the potential of the Internet to benefit others.
More than one-third (35 percent) say they believe the Internet has had a “mostly
positive” effect on the religious lives of others. A majority (62 percent)
say they believe availability of materials via the Internet encourages religious
tolerance, and 86 percent say they see the World Wide Web as helping persons
find others who share their beliefs.
But there are concerns.
Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of religion surfers say they
feel there is too much sacrilegious material available on the Internet. Meanwhile,
53 percent of religion surfers said they fear the Internet “makes it too
easy for fringe groups to promote themselves in ways that can harm people,”
the Pew Internet project reported.
And of course, there is the aforementioned specter of the First
Church of the Internet.
However, at this point, the Internet is proving to be an aid
to physical congregations by helping to strengthen ties between members via
dedicated Web sites, the Pew Internet report notes. “Web sites may not
create new communities, but communities can create vibrant Web presences that
… benefit their members,” it explains.
In other words, as for the danger of the Internet robbing physical
churches of their members, rest easy for now, the Pew Internet report concludes.
“We found little to support the theory that the Internet
will take the faithful out of their churches and temples. While it may provide
significant benefits to those who pray and do faith-related studies, use of
the Internet does not appear to be as strong in forming new religious communities.
…
“(But) To those already highly engaged in their faiths
and with a predilection for surfing, the Internet provides material that reinforces
faith and surfing habits alike,” the Pew Internet report concludes. “To
those highly engaged in their faith communities, it brings new possibilities
for members to work together, reinforcing bonds that make the community strong.
(And) To those who remain outside of religious communities but want to pursue
their spiritual needs, it provides resources for private practice and … a
safe place to explore re-entering a community of faith.”
(The full Pew Internet report may be accessed online at www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=53)