The Evils of Blogging

200610131347-1An article from the  Restored Church of God warns about blogging in “Blogs and God’s Youth”. The dangers of blogging, according to the article, are openness and privacy, vanity, and idle words. Potential bloggers are advised to avoid the appearance of evil.

“Blogging has become a socially accepted practice—just as are dating seriously too young, underage drinking and general misbehaving. But just because someone else ”jumps off the cliff“ does not mean you should do the same.”

“. . . Is this article saying that every blog in the world is wrong? No, of course not! Again, there are some professionals and specialists who use blogs to serve a proper purpose. All that said, you can—and SHOULD—maintain friends the ”old-fashioned“ way, through actual personal contact, as well as letter writing, emailing or instant messaging” Kevin D. Denee


HT: BoingBoing

Response: LaityOnline think Kevin is “abusing the Bible”

The Register took notice

Related: Pew Report called  Bloggers: A Portrait of the Internet’s New Storytellers

And see my post on The Spirituality of Blogging [corrected link – thanks Horton]

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Andrew

Andrew Jones launched his first internet space in 1997 and has been teaching on related issues for the past 20 years. He travels all the time but lives between Wellington, San Francisco and a hobbit home in Prague.

9 Comments

  • i can see where this person is coming from in that, the web can’t take the place of real flesh and blood relationships. Yet, this is where we find society at this time and blogs offer a space for people to connect who might never connect outside blogdom very much. i suspect though, that people are experiencing both. At least this is my personal experience. i am thankful for blogs as i have many friends around the world through blogs and many i have never met in person, but we have authentic friendships. People can meet face to face and still maintain superficial relationships. It comes down to intentionality, i think.

  • Ross says:

    I think that the jury will be out for a long time on blogging.
    I have joined the community after much thought, and find it personally helpful to blog, whether anyone else finds what I write helpful is another matter! My problem is that there is so much good stuff out there that I am in danger of being overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I think, for example, it is brilliant that while in Hong Kong I can post a comment on a site written by a guy I have never met, in Orkney, knowing my daugther is, at the moment, playing hockey at School in Perthshire. Whether this means (in a long term sense) anything is altogther different, but while we wait for the jury let’s keep blogging!

  • kent says:

    I am married for 26 years so serious dating is out. I don’t “drink” for a host of reasons, and since I am past the 50 barrier it more likely to be over age drinking if I did, but I must say I will miss the the general misbehavior. Always been a bright spot in my life. So I will stick with blogging. Stay the course.

  • FTM says:

    Not to mention how difficult it can be to blog effectively. I’m often accused of sounding “arrogant” on my blog whenever I use language that is the least bit strong. It’s not easy, and with so many people becoming instant writers, we have to be careful of how we write.

  • Horton says:

    Andrew,
    The link to your posting on the Spirituality of blogging was inoperative. I found it at this link. Here
    Later,
    Horton

  • David says:

    Seems these evils are perils in all walks not just on a blog. I can’t help but ask does God really want goody goodies or passion?
    I’m with Ross on being overwhelmed, I add to the pile, as a discipline that forces me to think. If someone reads it and finds it helpful, that’s good.

  • Hi Andrew, long time no see! I’ll never forget the time with you and the family and the camper at Church of the Savior.
    I read that “blogging” article too. Basically… I think the guy is scared of losing power of the congregation. He’s saying that only “official” people (like himself) should have a voice, and everyone else (especially youth) should shut up and do what they’re told. Let’s hear it for blogging and bloggers!

  • andrew says:

    hi bob – yes – 1999 at COTS in philly. you need to come over and see us now that we are living in UK.

  • Matt says:

    It seems to me that there is some truth on both sides of this argument, but in the end I am with David. I agree that idle, careless talk while blogging, conversing, emailing, snail-mailing, or (gasp!) preaching can be a dangerous thing. On the other hand….
    While I can’t speak to the writer of this particular article, I suspect that there are a lot of Christian leaders out there who fear that blog communities and networks threaten their ability to “control” a message.

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