Has Technology Helped Shape Religion For the Worse or Better?

New apps on IPhones, and the improvement of printing has allowed for people all over the world to be more interactive with their religions. Churches and people are able to buy Bibles for a much cheaper price. Or if they don’t want the book, they can download apps that help translate the Bible into an easier way for people to understand. The questions I am trying to answer is has technology shaped religions for the worse or better?

Thesis: Technology has allowed religions to spread thoughts or ideas through media in a more efficient way, but also has some disadvantages as well.

http://www.themonastery.org

The article Technology May Be Good For Religion After All, an organization that may be biased as it has blogs, claims that technology has done nothing but help religious beliefs. It states “Not only can people become a minister free at the click of a mouse, exchange ideas on Internet church forums, or give sermons through online video platforms, but they can establish support networks for group members”. Reading the bible online, or signing up for online churches may be more convenient for people. The reading lists all of the positive outcomes technology has brought. Even though the author may acknowledge the opposing side, the article backs up their side with even more evidence, which makes their point convincing.  

The opposing article How the Internet Is Taking Away America’s Religion, a reliable technology review website, declares that data taken by Allen Downey shows as Internet increases, religions decreases. Downey reported data and concluded that “it implies that since 1990, the increase in Internet use has had as powerful an influence on religious affiliation as the drop in religious upbringing”. This statement may be caused by new generations spending hours on social media and laptops as that is their norm. It’s hard to get people outside if their eyes are glued to a screen, but it may be for the best interest for them to get out of the house and especially go to church.

-Future Research: How has technology influenced music?