Religion Online

           It's no secret that social media is changing the way businesses interact with their customers and people keep up relationships with friends and family, but social media has also made a big splash in the religious sector. Various religious organizations across the world such as the Catholic and LDS faiths have started to use YouTube, Twitter and Facebook campaigns to raise awareness of their beliefs and who they are. Another example is OurJewishCommunity.org. While they do not represent the entire Jewish religion, this congregation uses social media effectively to hold worship services on a weekly basis.

"As our lives get busier and more transient, making the trek to the same brick-and-mortar synagogue for services can present a barrier to involvement in the Jewish community," says Rabbi Laura Baum. This is why she has helped to build and lead the world's largest online synagogue. (Baum) With thousands of followers in dozens of countries, this world-wide congregation is changing the way many choose to worship and connect with fellow Jews.

Every Friday evening, the time of the Jewish Sabbath, a sermon is presented by Rabbis Laura Baum and Robert Barr, but not in a synagogue or other place of worship. Their sermon is only streamed over the internet where many members of the congregation check-in and chat via Facebook and Twitter both during and after the sermon. Baum comments, "The reality is that relationships built and maintained online, using tools like Facebook, Twitter and Skype, are increasingly common and can even be stronger than physical connections...If someone mentions one week on the chat that they have a relative who is ill, often people will inquire about them the next week." (Baum) In this way, the members are able to connect and be part of each other's lives without being physically present or geographically close. 

The influence of social media and technology are only becoming stronger in today's ever evolving world. It is bringing people closer, as is evidenced by the worship practices of this Jewish congregation. While this type of worship may not be conducive to many, I foresee other religions taking a similar route to connect with more people of their faith throughout various parts of the world. 

Works Cited

Baum, Laura. "Belief Blog: My Faith: Why I lead an online synagogue." 4 October 2010. CNN. 23 January 2012.