Comments on: Technology As a Spiritual Practice? http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/ A Church Web Diva's Musings on Excellence in Religious Websites Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:21:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anna Belle http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-740 Anna Belle Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:07:03 +0000 http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-740 <p>Dear Pythia Crone, Words can’t express how grateful I am for your sharing the <a href="http://www.gratefulness.org/" rel="nofollow">gratefulness.org site</a>. I lit a candle and was deeply touched. I hope many others find this site, and that it brings them solace.</p> Dear Pythia Crone, Words can’t express how grateful I am for your sharing the gratefulness.org site. I lit a candle and was deeply touched. I hope many others find this site, and that it brings them solace.

]]> By: Pythia Crone http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-734 Pythia Crone Sat, 28 Jul 2007 05:22:37 +0000 http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-734 Because of chronic health problems, injuries and pain, I am not able to walk to the nearby Episcopal cathedral to light candles for my concerns. I learned about the gratefulness.org website where you can light electronic candles for one's concerns and thanks, etc. I have one or more going for myself all the time. When I was a little girl I was told about the cumulative energy from many people praying. That's why old Catholic churches are so alive. So, because of the hundreds of people lighting candles, even though it is a technology, there is powerful group energy, belief and faith occurring through the website. I believe lighting the PC candles helps and is comforting. Because of chronic health problems, injuries and pain, I am not able to walk to the nearby Episcopal cathedral to light candles for my concerns.

I learned about the gratefulness.org website where you can light electronic candles for one’s concerns and thanks, etc. I have one or more going for myself all the time.

When I was a little girl I was told about the cumulative energy from many people praying. That’s why old Catholic churches are so alive.

So, because of the hundreds of people lighting candles, even though it is a technology, there is powerful group energy, belief and faith occurring through the website.

I believe lighting the PC candles helps and is comforting.

]]> By: Anna Belle http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-730 Anna Belle Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:53:59 +0000 http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-730 UUpdater -- I agree with you on all counts. It's quite rare, though, that I encounter people talking about the spiritual possibilities of technology -- rare enough that I'm very grateful that you affirm it. My observation is that this scarcity makes it less likely for people to attempt it or realize it when it does happen to them. UUpdater — I agree with you on all counts. It’s quite rare, though, that I encounter people talking about the spiritual possibilities of technology — rare enough that I’m very grateful that you affirm it. My observation is that this scarcity makes it less likely for people to attempt it or realize it when it does happen to them.

]]> By: UUpdater http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-717 UUpdater Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:17:49 +0000 http://www.faithandweb.com/2007/07/27/technology-as-a-spiritual-practice/#comment-717 Based on the excerpt I don't think they were saying technology itself is inherently bad, but rather that as a form of "always available" communication it provides a tempting level of constant distraction that has never existed before. If you are getting into a deep coding zen like state I doubt you are popping open the IM client, blogs, e-mail, etc. etc. every 30 seconds. And I think that is the key, you need to learn to set boundaries with the technology, and not let the cell phone, or e-mail, etc. pull you away from anything that is important. If the cell phone, or e-mail, or whatever ruins family time it's a problem with the person, not the technology. And you are right, they didn't mention at all the possible spiritual venues and practices that technology opens up. Based on the excerpt I don’t think they were saying technology itself is inherently bad, but rather that as a form of “always available” communication it provides a tempting level of constant distraction that has never existed before. If you are getting into a deep coding zen like state I doubt you are popping open the IM client, blogs, e-mail, etc. etc. every 30 seconds. And I think that is the key, you need to learn to set boundaries with the technology, and not let the cell phone, or e-mail, etc. pull you away from anything that is important. If the cell phone, or e-mail, or whatever ruins family time it’s a problem with the person, not the technology.

And you are right, they didn’t mention at all the possible spiritual venues and practices that technology opens up.

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