Welcome

Welcome to the wild, wacky and wonderful world of internet spirituality. Trying to describe internet spirituality reminds me of an ancient Hindu parable about six blind men trying to describe an elephant. The first blind man, touching the elephant’s side, determined it was a wall. The second man, clinging to the tusk, concluded it was a spear while the third man, stroking the trunk, thought it was a huge snake. The fourth man, holding a leg, concluded it was a tree and the fifth man, clutching an ear, decided it was a fan. The sixth man, grasping the tail, was convinced he held a rope. Each described the elephant from his limited perception; each lacked the ability to see the larger picture.

So what is the larger picture of cyber spirituality? Taped to my computer desk is a faded comic that reads: "Desperate? Confused? Visit www.god.com for all your spiritual needs!" Who among us has not received humorous emails like the one I received the other day that read, "stop what you’re doing for the next 60 seconds and if you really believe in prayer, send this email prayer to 10 friends if you want good luck to come your way." I must confess that I have a favorite email prayer taped on my refrigerator door: "Dear God, so far today I’ve done pretty good. I haven’t gossiped or lost my temper. I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, rude, selfish or over-indulgent. I’m very proud of that, thank you! But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed and from then on, I’m gonna need all the help I can get. Amen." Another personal favorite is the story of a young mother helping her child say her prayers before bedtime. As the little girl recited the Lord’s prayer, she made an innocent mistake. Rather than pray to be delivered from evil, she asked to be delivered from email.

Community.com

The internet is often called the information superhighway. Some argue it is a "solution waiting for a problem." Yes, it is the world’s largest library. But many overlook the ‘Net’s astonishing ability to bring people together. Each individual with access can keep in touch with family and friends, get breaking news and discuss its implications, use the incredible search engine resources for research, comparison shopping and more. It is a medium of mass communication that is also intensely personal and interactive. Through the ‘Net, we can ask for and offer advice, share ideas and get feedback while discovering new knowledge. We can meet new people and make valuable contacts, all the while improving our computer and writing skills. The internet can be compared to sitting at the local coffee shop. People sit at the table, talk and listen. You can send a letter to one or hundreds through email. It is a powerful spiritual companioning tool.

The internet truly came of age in 1998. Its growth has been phenomenal and has given hundreds of millions of people the opportunity to be online and communicate through a new medium. Its influence is clearly felt in politics, education, business and media. These interactive services make our lives easier and more convenient.

How it is integrated into people’s lives will define this century. Already the ‘Net has quickly become a global medium that is as central and valuable to our lives as the telephones of the 1920s and the television in the 1950s. The majority of consumers who have been online for three years or more now view this medium as a necessity to their lives. Almost every culture and nation now use it. Every age group is significantly involved from young school children to elderly users. People who live overseas without running water manage to get online and suddenly their world comes very close to our own.

If the blind men in the Hindu parable struggled to describe an elephant, just imagine them describing the internet. It’s an incredible electronic maze, and it is an information superhighway. Perhaps most importantly, it is a community builder. The ‘Net brings like-minded people together. Chances are you will find a community somewhere on the web. Groups who have often been excluded or who feel rejected by religion are finding spiritual community online. Deep friendships develop and it is not uncommon to hear people talking of their electronic soul mates.

People who have been reluctant to write a traditional letter, postcard or note are spending hours writing electronic letters (email) to pen pals around the world, sharing their faith experiences and favorite websites of spiritual hospitality and generosity, helping people pray with a simple click of the computer mouse.

7/24/365

It was Mae West who said, "Too much of a good thing is always wonderful!" All the good things of the internet have launched a wonderful global spiritual revolution affecting hundreds of millions of people. It occurs 7/24/365. The ‘Net never sleeps and abounds with virtual lurkers and searchers, who eagerly explore the million plus existing websites dedicated to faith, religion and every kind of spirituality practice imaginable.

Internet evangelists from every imaginable DOC (Deity of Choice) eagerly share their faith through email, personal and church and denominational websites, with thoughtfully placed hyperlinks, while they send e-cards, virtual meditations, and participate in various list discussions and chat rooms.

1 in 4

Religious experts who study trends estimate approximately 70% in the United States of America are now online. The December 2001 issue of Yahoo.com magazine revealed that 1 in 4 adults in North America now uses the internet for religious and spiritual expression. According to George Barna (www.barna.com), 1 in 6 use the ‘Net as their only spirituality resource. Amazing but true.

Just the other day while at a dance class in a local community center, a college student struck up a conversation with me. He began sharing some of his career dreams and aspirations before asking about the kind of work I did. I told him I was an internet pastor. He asked what that meant. It means that I live locally but work globally. The world is my parish. The student’s eyes grew large as he excitedly shared that his father had no religious background of any kind, but constantly searched the internet for spiritual answers to his many questions.

God.com

With a click of the mouse, we can surf to a Roman Catholic reading room, leap over to an Orthodox Jewish discussion group and then visit a live online meeting with a Zen Buddhist group. And while we are at it, let’s email a prayer to God through a virtual Jerusalem, a cyber Sistine chapel and through the WebPages of some of the great cathedrals around the world. Cyber pilgrims surf to Mecca and Mount Meru, the Vatican and many other holy places and experience profound, life changing moments of transformation in the process.

Miss church? No problem. Consider using a cyber church. Simply download a sermon, devotional, homily or meditation of your choice. Want to experience a few minutes of daily spiritual wisdom from other faiths? Visit a website such as www.beliefnet.com and request a daily inspirational email that can be Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, a reading from Torah and/or the Bible and do not forget the wisdom from the Dalai Lama.

Confession has always been good for the soul. Many are eagerly trying digital confessions. Just fill in the blanks. The Confession Booth (http://anter.learning.cs.scu.ed/priest.html) make this easy for all seekers and you don’t even have to be Roman Catholic to use it.

Digital Priest: And what is it you wish to confess?

Response: I committed the following sin:

(Murder) (Adultery) (Sloth) (Lust) (Avarice) (Deception) (Gluttony) (Pride) (Anger) (Covetousness) (Misplaced Priorities)

People are searching for spiritual insights and the ‘Net can provide many answers. More than 10,000 world religions are represented online. Christianity alone has more than 33,000 denominations and there are so many websites from religious organizations, individuals, local churches that it can be overwhelming to the casual seeker.

Cybersalvation

Cybersalvation is today’s virtual reality. "I found God through the internet" is an increasingly heard testimony. While some debate if the internet can save souls, it must be recognized as a rapidly growing movement. God.com is today’s reality. Cyber evangelism is occurring globally in every major faith tradition and spiritual inclination. New technology is empowering people of faith to share ancient spiritual wisdom and beauty (www.geocities.com/russian_icons/trinity.htm, www.geocities.com/russian_icons/theotokos.htm> and www.geocities.com/russian_icons/savior.htm) as well as culturally relevant outreach (www.seekerschurch.org) .

People who formerly sat in front of their televisions or went out for a social drink now surf the ‘Net. Many have never darkened the door of a church, temple, synagogue or mosque. But they sample internet churches, spirituality chat and prayer rooms, searching web pages for religious information and spiritual companions. Each faith tradition is eager to share their interpretation of an online gospel. Everybody believes in something and that something is on the World Wide Web.

Spiritual hospitality, generosity and sanctuary through soulfoodministry.org

As international seekers explore and sample various websites, one quickly notices every website is different in approach, theology and practical spiritual practices. Globally, people are in search of websites offering spiritual hospitality, generosity and sanctuary. Quality content can transform lives while we search for meaning during our faith journeys (http://soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/FJ1.htm).

I confess to being a technically challenged minister who is blessed to work with a dream team of technically gifted, big hearted, dedicated volunteers. Through our combined efforts, Soulfoodministry.org is a gracious presence in cyberspace. We have been online since 1998 and serve virtual visitors from more than 102 countries. We offer a variety of devotional materials that strive to help our visitors feel closer to the Sacred. It is our goal to equip, energize, empower and encourage all who come to us and we represent a growing, global voice of faith.

Cyber pilgrims browse and download Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian and English meditations and other spiritual resources written by a variety of international authors. Some visitors print off materials and share them with friends and family who are offline. I’ve known people on other continents who share hard copies of our reflections with those hospitalized or with others who are in prison. Many forward email copies of the devotionals and they circulate the world, stimulating electronic conversations about the Sacred. When America was attacked on September 11, 2001, a spiritual response was posted before the dust from the rubble cleared in an effort to offer comfort and solace for virtual readers. Visitors email various prayer requests to a trusted confidential prayer team ( prayerteam@mccdc.com). These saints pray for the strange and the stranger alike in a variety of languages and situations. Even those who do not believe in prayer will email the prayer team "for a little extra help from the Big Guy in the sky." Some cyberpilgrims have actually traveled to my home from the other side of the world for moments of face to face conversation after a relationship is established.

Most of all, I have noticed that people are hungry for materials that help them feel closer to God. Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, "If I do not spend a reasonable amount of time in meditation early in the morning, then I feel a physical discomfort. It is worse than having forgotten to brush my teeth." In my experience as an internet pastor, I can only conclude there are many around the world who would agree with the Archbishop as they use the internet as a vital part of their daily spiritual meditations.

God and pornography

There is a notable dark side to the ‘Net that offers a great deal of crude and offensive matter. God and pornography can be found with equal ease. The internet has been called the world’s largest library. Like any library, there are certain materials unsuitable for children. Because of the anonymity of cyberspace, it is easy to lurk and search unsavory websites. Our sexuality and spirituality are closely connected and it would behoove the wise to avoid cyber-porn, which is highly addictive and can lead to destructive behaviors. Because of the easy availability of pornography, no child should ever be allowed to surf, or explore the ‘Net without accountability and adult supervision. There are many sexual predators and criminals in the cyber city who aggressively evangelize on the internet.

The internet and children

Children along with adults actively date through the internet. The church has a remarkable opportunity to be culturally relevant. Today’s techno-savvy under-16ers have a new venue for exploring teen idols, puppy love and fantasies. Our kids are online looking for someone to communicate with. They like to get email. They post messages looking for cyber boyfriends and girlfriends as preteens. "Hi! I am looking for a cyber boyfriend! I am ten. I have brown hair and brown eyes. I love swimming, playing basketball, and think kittens are adorable! If you want to be my cyber boyfriend, email me." Help your children find web sites such as cyberkids.com, teentalk.com and cyberteens.com. These provide social sites and are easily found through large search engines such as yahoo and others. Falling in love is a spiritual experience. At the very least, let us offer safe guidelines for cyber dating for our young charges to reduce risky behaviors.

Wise youth pastors, religious educators and parents would do well to lead their children in participating in various chat and online communities.

Many teens are more technically adept than their spiritual leaders and are thrilled to participate in developing and maintaining their church web page and cyber youth outreach if given a change. Consider inviting the teens in your church to participate in such contemporary outreach and offer them an opportunity to teach the adults in their lives.

Some virtual realities and cautions while exploring ‘Net spirituality

One of the most frequent questions in cyberspace is "Who are you?" "Where on the planet do you live?" In virtual reality you can be anyone you want to be. And anyone can publish materials and claim to be a theologian on the internet. A word to the wise—do not believe everything you read or everyone you meet.

Using the internet is as easy as using the telephone. But be very careful with confidentiality, privacy and veracity issues. The internet is as private as a postcard. Emails can be forwarded. We also leave electronic cyber footprints. Email is stored by internet providers and can be retrieved and traced to senders and receivers. Think twice before pouring out your problems to complete strangers online. Share with care. There is tremendous vulnerability in cyberspace. One of the most frequently heard statements I read in emails are: "I don’t even know you and I’m telling you about my pain."

And our humanness imagines what people look like and what kind of persons they are. Our words represent our electronic voice. Psychological dependencies and codependencies can develop. Emails may confuse people with unfamiliar local idiom and language nuances. Transference and counter-transference issues can be easily experienced in email. For other issues and challenges in cyberspace outreach, you are cordially invited to use http://soulfoodministry.org/docs/GeneralConfJuly99.htm as a resource.

Summary

The internet is here to stay and is full of cyberpilgrims searching for enlightenment in the world of cyber spirituality. On Sunday mornings some people go to church. Many others simply turn on their computers.

I cordially invite you to use www.soulfoodministry.org as part of your journey. The internet is an amazing resource that needs to be experienced. Enjoy your surfing. Share with care. Teach your children cyber low risk behaviors. And may your Deity of Choice bless you with great electronic soul friends as you explore spirituality websites, chat rooms and virtual chapels.

About the speaker

Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok is the internet pastor of www.soulfoodministry.org. She earned her Doctor of Ministry degree at Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC and Masters of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She is active in ecumenical and interfaith pulpit supply, facilitates retreats and labyrinth events. She has authored a book titled: LIVING AS THE BELOVED: ONE DAY AT A TIME. Her book is under contract for publication through www.chirhopress.com. You are cordially invited to email her with your comments and thoughts about this message at revsandyb@aol.com.