Our Father, Lead Us to Tweet, and Forgive the Trespassers from the New York Times reports ont he growing implementation of social networking tools by religious organizations seeking outreach to the faithful - but are leery of the informality and some unwelcome contributions by those seeking to crash and/or trash the sites with unsavory content.
In online debates and private discussions, leaders of all faiths have been weighing pros and cons and diagramming the boundaries of acceptable interactions: Should the congregation have a Facebook page, or should it be the imam’s or priest’s? Should there be limited access? Censoring? Is it appropriate for a clergy member to “friend” a minor?
Some recoil at the informality and unpredictability of the crowds marshaled by social media, and at their seeming immunity — even hostility — to the authority of established institutions. More deeply, some in the clergy see a basic tension between the anonymous world of online life and the meaning of religious community.
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