Pope OKs social media, in moderation
If you were staying off Facebook or Twitter because it may have been sacrilegious, you’ve lost your excuse.
Pope Benedict XVI has given social networking his blessing, saying some services and search engines are “the starting point of communication for many people who are seeking advice, ideas, information and answers.”
“Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God.”
He went on to compare Twitter, which limits status updates to 140 characters, to the Bible. The pope said: “In concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible, profound thoughts can be communicated, as long as those taking part in the conversation do not neglect to cultivate their own inner lives.”
If you didn’t pick it up in that last line, the Pope isn’t giving us the complete green light. He says social networking is good in moderation – as long as followers spend some time using what they learned online to make the world a better place.
They also need time to reflect in peace and in silence, which he says can help communication have a bigger impact.
Religion isn't entirely new to the social media sphere - heck, there are even Facebook pages designed around daily prayers.
Do you think there is a place for religion and social media?
- Maurice Cacho, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
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Posted by: kthxbai | Jan 31, 2012 12:36:58 AM
great...so it's only a matter of time before some dumb@$$ priest is caught using twitter to send pics of his junk to alter boys everywhere
WIN :s
Posted by: Ian D Smith | Jan 31, 2012 6:27:59 AM
You should embrace the truth. It will set you free. Spirituality is religion and religions of all different faiths all have one goal. To get closer to god thru faith. I think as I have been yelling and screaming all my life that enough is enough if you wouldn't mind, I continue to suggest we need a new book for all faiths. (The Good Book). In todays world we all know that this can be and must be done. Stop the fighting and defending of lies. I neither require or convent gold, jewels,money or living in a bubble of balistic glass. Odd is it not, that GOD defends me. I have been shot at by large bullets, lasers, microwave blasts and poisons. And still I stand. This happens because of why??? I know, do you? My GOD. All I ever wanted, was to walk around with my head held high and love people. To show people of all faiths that we are not so different.
Love Ian
PS: I am not a highly educated man but I am a smart man. There is no difference and I apploigize for the spelling but I always seem to have little time and many handicaps.
Posted by: terry | Jan 31, 2012 8:43:16 AM
hey Ian. We have a book for all faiths. its called the bible. What we need is for religions to start preaching what the bible actually says instead of their own version of it. If people really read the Bible they would see that most of the religions dont preach what the Bible actually says. The Truth is in the Bible.Not what a preacher spews from the pulpit
Posted by: Ian | Jan 31, 2012 8:56:16 AM
Cool, what bible is that, and what version of it???
I agree though, it seems today the greed and the other sins, have taken us so close to extiction that this has to be realized and soon.. We are now pumping chemical into the ground to rid it of methane gas and add to the green house gasses to what.. go without oxygen? or crank up the heat? No the truth is to make the trees die and drive the bugs out of the ground and what feed on us? or make the pigs on the surface get fatter.
Just a Thought...
Ian
Posted by: Ian | Jan 31, 2012 9:01:55 AM
I am simply saying we need to slow down this process and bring truth under GOD where no longer can people strip the planet of its bounty and lie under oath as a expert. The is what is wrong with our just little planet.
Ian
Posted by: Nathalie | Jan 31, 2012 9:06:46 AM
Are you freaking kidding me, needing permission from the pope to use social networking? Ok people, please realise that religion is only a form of control and it is time people don't let it control them anymore. It is time society realizes that we do not need a "god" to have good values but just being god towards each other. Please in this day and age religions and gods should be kept where it belongs in fiction books!
Posted by: Ian | Jan 31, 2012 9:13:57 AM
I am sorry Nathalie but I believe that we have never needed GOD more. I respect each persons right to believe what they want but given a truth most people need to believe in some thing bigger than thier selves. If not where are we to live?
Ian
Posted by: Ian | Jan 31, 2012 9:20:48 AM
I am telling the truth and have been asking people to stop fracking lies to line there pockets and kill the planet of all that is good.
Ian
Posted by: nafc | Jan 31, 2012 10:30:39 AM
Who cares what a geezer that covers up child abuse thinks. They live in the stone age anyway, surprised they even know what the internet is.
Posted by: Jean | Jan 31, 2012 10:31:52 AM
Nathalie: You are obviously an agnostic or an atheist. I feel sorry for people like you. You are the ones whom we specifically genuine Christians must pray for and there are many of us worldwide.
The saying goes: "If there was no God, there would not be agnostics and atheists" and we would not be speaking, discussing and arguing about God. Get it?
When you stand before God, your Creator, Maker and Ruler of the world you will find out, too late, to your eternal detriment, how much you needed God in your life and you rejected Him and preached what is false. Do not be deceived by the morning/noon and night devil, the enemy of God and of our souls.
The time will come when you will wish that you had God in your life and when you need. Will it be too late for you and all those who reject Him and do not Him in their lives, proud as a peacock they are who lack love and humility? Only God knows. Conform yourself to the Most Holy Will of God and you will, at least, live a happy and peaceful life on this earth no matter what the obstacles and struggles and then when you die to obtain eternal salvation. There is no other way. All things are temporary and passing. God and eternity alone will remain. I pray that this information will assist you.
May God enlighten you accordingly. Have a blessed, happy and peaceful day in Jesus Christ's Name, our Lord, King and Savior of the world. Spread the Word and the Truth of the Matter and what really matters in life to eternity.
Posted by: chicnstu49 | Jan 31, 2012 11:04:49 AM
Well, thank god! its ok...
Posted by: Allie | Jan 31, 2012 12:15:12 PM
Did he really just compare Twitter to the bible? As if...
Posted by: Craig | Jan 31, 2012 1:17:41 PM
Who cares what the Pope thinks. As soon as the Catholic church allows women to become priests, stops hiding their paedophile priests from the law, and sells all the trillions of dollars worth of gold they are sitting on and distributes that among the poor then perhaps, and only perhaps, they can be seen as something other than hypocrites.
While they are at it perhaps they could amend their view on HIV/Aids, homosexuality, condoms, and a few other issues where they have been unable to advance their thinking past the 5th century.
For all of you that will write and tell me I am headed for eternal damnation please understand that you are speaking about your God, not mine. Your religion, not mine. Your beliefs, not mine. Save your preaching for Sunday morning.
Posted by: Ian | Jan 31, 2012 1:44:42 PM
Please just forgive, and do so in the name of your GOD. That is a path too devine forgiveness. One that is truely needed. We must confront many issues. I believe we have already accomplished so much. Lets use these wonder of wonders that have been given us and pay it forward.
With Love
Posted by: terry | Jan 31, 2012 3:15:03 PM
If you read the book of Revelation in the Bible it talks of Babylon, or the world of false religion.These false religions include all the ones that do not teach the truth. Catholics are the biggest ones . They have been involved in the crusades in medieval times and have helped leaders like Hitler rise to power and stood by when he slaughtered the jews. They also helped in singling out the Tutsi's in Rwanda. They offered them a place to hide in their church then told the Hutu's they were hiding in there and stood by when they killed them all.If this sounds like a religion you want to listen to then God help you. The day is coming when the world of false religion will be destroyed and I will not miss them
Posted by: novy | Jan 31, 2012 3:32:59 PM
We need permission from this old fool?? Give me a break. Why does this cult think that everyone in the world has to abide it idiotic rules??
Posted by: monkeyC | Jan 31, 2012 6:15:09 PM
Why does everyone call Catholicism a cult? I do not know a single Catholic that encourages sex with multiple people, embraces killing an innocent person as a sacrifice to some sort of demon, or anything else that real cults practice.
Second of all, I'm a 14 year old Catholic who has lately been wondering if I should or should not get a Facebook account. I am glad to hear that the Pope has something positive to say about social media.
Posted by: Ian | Jan 31, 2012 7:20:00 PM
All I stand for is, follow you heart,with faith in GOD and a spirit of love, and how can it be wrong. A new book with all faiths in this interest and in this medium could only be considered a "Good Book" if one wishes to write one that represents the dark side then go for it. I choose Life, Love and Happiness.
Posted by: Rain | Jan 31, 2012 9:57:53 PM
every one has a choice nobodys forcing you to join he church. its called freedom. if you dont beleive in the church im sure you believe in freedom.
Posted by: Rain | Jan 31, 2012 10:20:55 PM
freedom, therfore those againts god shouldnt complain how the world has religion because its a choice. and im sure you want me to have a choice like i would like you to have a choice. for others agasint the church what do you stand for freedom?love?forgiveness? . if you dont beleive in the church what about civil rights? civil rights is about freedom,love,choice..
Posted by: XTREME | Jan 31, 2012 11:21:36 PM
That's what Catholic Pope Pius the 12th said to the Jews in Rome as they were loaded onto the train for Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Treblinka and Dachau. "We're only taking a few of you out to the camps for your own safety." Years later, as Catholicism ran away from it's Reichskonkordat past it was only diddling a few of the children in most every parish around the world. But hey, everything in "moderation". Soon their will be so few people that believe in this type of moderate faith, the remaining congregations won't need a Pope or Priest.
Posted by: Librarian | Feb 1, 2012 12:08:40 AM
This is rich "the Pope Ok's" social media. This guy is impressive at keeping all his sheep following along being. Wake up people, there is no such thing as god. I really can't believe some of the crap from people about needing god. I don't see how you can be happy chasing an unattainable goal.
Posted by: Gerry | Feb 1, 2012 8:18:28 AM
I'm certainly in agreement with by brothers and sisters in Christ who have already commented. Who is the Pope but a religious figurehead who falsifies and distorts the truth as recorded in the Scriptures. One would have to agree with some things that he stands for but he mixes truth and error together... and what do you come up with? False doctrine. So does it really make any difference what he says. Follow the Scriptures... they are our true guide to abundant and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Posted by: The real pope | Feb 3, 2012 2:53:19 PM
Social media and Catholocism...yet another medium to deny, deride and disrespect. This does not modernize the Catholic religion nor does it make progress in resolving past transgressions in diocies across the globe where abuse and complicit cover-ups to save face run rampant, this action opens the door for more emabarassment and ridicule. The glory days of old are over, the pope is not god. True spirituality does not come from a book, it is firmly rooted in the individual.
Posted by: The real pope | Feb 3, 2012 2:59:37 PM
YA! SUCK IT BITCH!
Posted by: Craig | Jan 31, 2012 1:17:41 PM
Who cares what the Pope thinks. As soon as the Catholic church allows women to become priests, stops hiding their paedophile priests from the law, and sells all the trillions of dollars worth of gold they are sitting on and distributes that among the poor then perhaps, and only perhaps, they can be seen as something other than hypocrites.
While they are at it perhaps they could amend their view on HIV/Aids, homosexuality, condoms, and a few other issues where they have been unable to advance their thinking past the 5th century.
For all of you that will write and tell me I am headed for eternal damnation please understand that you are speaking about your God, not mine. Your religion, not mine. Your beliefs, not mine. Save your preaching for Sunday morning