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Rev. James Martin, S.J.

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10 Digital Commandments: Dos And Don'ts For Religion On The Web

Posted: 06/27/11 07:48 PM ET

Do Engage. Maintain an active presence in the digital world, including on Facebook and YouTube. It is easy to set up accounts on both. Facebook features "fan pages" for public organizations that anyone can join or "like." Think about new modes, too, like smartphone apps.

Do Update. Frequently. If you are in need of new content, link to news items that people might otherwise overlook. "Sticky" is the industry term for a site to which viewers (or "eyeballs" stick). Think sticky.

Do Tweet. It is easy to write 140-character tweets (on scripture, spirituality, prayer, books, church news) that will help the people of God.

Do Redesign. At least every few years upgrade your website.

Do Scout. Look at popular websites, blogs, Facebook "fan pages," YouTube videos and Twitter feeds. What are they posting that makes them successful?

Don't Foster Link Rot. Leaving up dead links, (aka "link rot") will frustrate visitors and give the impression your organization is inattentive or just clueless.

Don't Be a Hater. Don't respond to hateful comments with more hate, no matter how tempting it is to "get" the other person. Remember, as Pope John XXIII liked to say: "In all things charity."

Don't Despair. If you question the need for this kind of evangelization, remember the growing power of social and digital media to reach the young and the not-so-young.

Don't Be Gullible. Be very discerning when you stumble upon outright attacks on other believers, or for that matter anyone. Before you jump to conclusions, find out what is actually going on.

Don't Be Proud. No medium is beneath us when it comes to spreading the Gospel. Remember Jesus used any and all means to reach people.

Read Rev. Martin's America Magazine essay on the Catholic Church's use of digital media.

 
 
 
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nigel Goodnow
03:19 PM on 06/28/2011
"Do Tweet. It is easy to write 140-character tweets that will help the people of God."
I'm not sure that more superficiality is really helpful. More snap posting, out-of-context Bible verses, and bumper-sticker theology is probably the last thing we need (whether you're a theist or atheist). Maybe if your tweet is "I'm reading (insert name of Christian philosopher, theologian or historian here). Maybe you should read it too, and we'll talk about it over coffee" then I'm onboard. Otherwise, please, no more chicken soup for the soul.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nigel Goodnow
03:15 PM on 06/28/2011
"Do Tweet. It is easy to write 140-character tweets that will help the people of God."
I'm a little disturbed with this one. I suppose it's all fine and well, but more superficiality, snap posting, and bumper-sticker theology is probably the last thing we need (both theists and atheists). I suppose if your tweet consists of "I'm reading (insert Christian philosopher, theologian or historian here)... maybe you should too, and we'll discuss it over coffee sometime" then I'm onboard. But please, no 140-character chicken soup for the soul.
02:14 PM on 06/28/2011
"Can'tya see, you aren't making Christianity better, you're just making rock and roll worse!" -- Hank Hill, Arlen, TX
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D-Barger
...and then I said and then...
08:50 AM on 06/28/2011
"Don't be gullible." That one was funny.

"Don't be proud" is the easy one. Lots of Christian YouTube video makers will tell lies to spread their message. Look at channels like TheAtheistAntidote (Brock Lawley), NephilimFree, ShockOfGod, VenomFangX, GodGunsGutsGlory (wants to kill homosexuals), Geerup, and more.
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JohnFromCensornati
The End is near
06:27 AM on 06/28/2011
Thou shalt have no other gods before texting.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven CD or any hardcopy of any file.
Thou shalt not take the name of the FaceBook in vain.
Remember to Tweet to help the people of God.
Honor thy disconnected father and thy disconnected mother.
Thou shalt not kill. Duh.
Thou shalt not hook up.
Thou shalt not steal intellectual property.
Thou shalt not bear false witness on the social network.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s iPad, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's Facebook friends, nor his iPhone, nor his Prius, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything else that virtually belongs to your neighor.
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Jelle NL
Unity in Diversity
02:47 AM on 06/28/2011
Don't imitate. Be original. Remember it is truth (not tradition, ritual or dogma) that will set you free.
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GrantS
I'm liberal through and through.
02:18 AM on 06/28/2011
And remember: Don't believe in evolution - no matter how much sense it makes.
10:53 PM on 06/27/2011
At least you're honest here. "This kind of evangelization" and "spreading the gospel" pretty much proves any comment I've ever left about the real purpose of religious blogs here. (People, it's not about "open dialogue" or "listening" at all. It's about proving "my faith" and "my god" is superior to any other. So what's the point? T.V. preachers are now using the web. . .what else is new?).
08:50 PM on 06/27/2011
Step out in faith and leave the results up to God. Being genuine about yourself in your love for others comes from the love that only God can give and has given us: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
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Elijah A Alexander Jr
Elijah NatureBoy
08:13 PM on 06/27/2011
Do be sure to give your personal testimony as it relates to the subject matter. Anyone can read a scripture and draw a conclusion, but few have testimony of how they have experienced it, which gives power to the message.

One example in the Christian world is to say "I'm Born Again" when Romans 1:20 suggest everything spiritual is recognized by the made things, therefore, if one is born again they should have testimony of their conception, gestating, trivial, birth & babyhood, childhood, adolescence and, if there are any adults, how they have manifested the powers Jesus promised us in John 14:12.
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gal416
is a Bible verse † † †
12:13 AM on 06/28/2011
Joh 14:12 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

What greater works do you think He was talking about? He gives us a hint in Mark 6:5

"And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them."

Apparently Jesus didn't think that healing a sick person was a mighty work. What are the greater works Jesus is speaking of in John 14.12? The apostles to whom Jesus spoke did the same things. They healed the sick and raised the dead. Yet Jesus said that those who believe on Him will do greater. What is the greater thing which they will do? Simon Peter, who had denied Him on the night He was arrested, preached a sermon on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 people became believers. I think that men, over the years, that have invested their lives in winning souls by preaching a crucified, risen, glorified, returning Savior so that a hearer may accept Christ and be born again is a greater miracle than healing the sick.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Elijah A Alexander Jr
Elijah NatureBoy
07:23 AM on 06/28/2011
Those who believe to the point they live his life style and teachings after being "born again" will topple governments and liberate the people from the fear of hell's fire so they may find abundant life rather than abundance of goods after rebirth. They will preach his message, not the story about him because there's no "salvation" in the story about him, it's in the understanding of his message given in parables.

Those "reborn" following his example will become the comforter, holy ghosts (1 John 3:2), who will reveal the meaning of his message (John 14:21&26) they will know by experiencing them, not talking about them. When Jesus resurrected he demonstrated being a "holy ghost" and we will be like him once we become adults. However, there's one to become the "Alpha" holy ghost, before the others, and "Omega," after replenishing the earth (Revelation 20:5) and rapturing according to Matthew 20:1-16 over 6000 years, because in the new world system ,Revelation 21:1-4 & 23, there is no birthing, discarnating, anything we know of in this world nor sun. It will be a spiritual world until it terminates with Genesis 1:1-2 being their rapture.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SocBeat
Bald and proud
12:56 PM on 06/28/2011
One of the faithful is preaching on a street corner, and is seconds away from converting a passer-by. An old man stumbles out of a doorway nearby, bleeding profusely from a slashed artery in his arm. What should the faithful preacher do? Lose the convert and help the bleeding man by placing a tourniquet on his arm, prolonging his life a few years; or complete the conversion and save the passer-by's soul for all eternity?

Think carefully before you answer
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Grada3784
God is a Parent, not an abuser.
07:40 PM on 06/27/2011
And some very definites:

Remember that those you debate with will not share a lot of the values with you. Discuss, don't dictate.

Don't pout when people disagree with you. Definitely forget terroristic threats of hell.

And relearn what many of us have forgotten: the art of persuasian is a gentle one.