#Faith: Social Media and the Church
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#Faith: Social Media and the Church provides a pathway for understanding our interaction with one of the latest media innovations today. This monograph is not intended as a “how to” manual. It is more a “why” and “what are the implications” booklet.
It begins with a historical perspective by recounting the role the then new social media of epistles and letters has played in growing the early church from the time of the Apostles to Martin Luther.
Following that, it discusses the implications of Internet-based social media for the church, including aspects of its authority, worship, community and identity.
The monograph points out the short-term effects and longer term implications of using social media for extending the church. It also highlights the need for a social media Sabbath where one takes a break from digitally connected gadgets like the smartphone.
The monograph concludes that social media is suited to the social church, but its uses are not without challenges and tensions. The adoption of the latest media including Internet-based social media can benefit the church, and help reach the young. However, as social beings, our need for perpetual connection need not solely be slaked by a compulsive social media diet.
Pauline Hope Cheong is Associate Professor at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University. She studies the complex interactions between communication technologies and different cultural communities around the world, including changing religious authority and community practices. Dr Cheong has published more than 65 articles and books and has served as lead editor of Digital Religion, Social Media and Culture: Perspectives, Practices, Futures (2012). She is an alumna of Nanyang Technological University and the University of Southern California. Her work has been honored with top research paper and book awards by the National Communication Association and International Communication Association.
It begins with a historical perspective by recounting the role the then new social media of epistles and letters has played in growing the early church from the time of the Apostles to Martin Luther.
Following that, it discusses the implications of Internet-based social media for the church, including aspects of its authority, worship, community and identity.
The monograph points out the short-term effects and longer term implications of using social media for extending the church. It also highlights the need for a social media Sabbath where one takes a break from digitally connected gadgets like the smartphone.
The monograph concludes that social media is suited to the social church, but its uses are not without challenges and tensions. The adoption of the latest media including Internet-based social media can benefit the church, and help reach the young. However, as social beings, our need for perpetual connection need not solely be slaked by a compulsive social media diet.
About the Authors
Ang Peng Hwa is Professor at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. He researches media law and policy and is the author of Ordering Chaos: Regulating the Internet. He co-founded the Global Internet Governance Academic Network and the Asia-Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum, serving as inaugural chairs for both. He is a Vice-President of the Consumers Association of Singapore where he also serves as the legal advisor of the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore. In 2015, he was elected President of the International Communication Association.Pauline Hope Cheong is Associate Professor at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University. She studies the complex interactions between communication technologies and different cultural communities around the world, including changing religious authority and community practices. Dr Cheong has published more than 65 articles and books and has served as lead editor of Digital Religion, Social Media and Culture: Perspectives, Practices, Futures (2012). She is an alumna of Nanyang Technological University and the University of Southern California. Her work has been honored with top research paper and book awards by the National Communication Association and International Communication Association.
