Interreligious Engagement on Social Media
To convey messages addressing religion in an effective and cautionary manner via social media is not an easy task. More often times than not, social media has cunning ways of persuading users to misinterpret or miscommunicate what is being said or what is desired to be said.
Bridging Babel highlights the fact that many religious leaders and organizations find difficulty and concern at succeeding to use new media to effectively conduct dialogue that religious communities can benefit from. This is a valid concern for the reasons previously stated.
Despite the issues that arise when interreligious dialogue occurs online, the role of interactive media, such as social media platforms, should not be discounted for the diverse atmosphere that they have facilitated.
In the slightest sense, new media has been a helpful tool in peacemaking. While it hasn’t gone to the extent of ending violence, massacres and wars relating to religious differences, if utilized appropriately, new media has the potential to successfully facilitate interreligious dialogue thus leading to greater strides in understanding religious diversity. The advantages of conducting interreligious dialogue using new media include a greater awareness of religious diversity, heightened knowledge and understanding of religions outside of one’s own and even a newfound interest to support other religious communities.
Nowadays, there are online establishments of “electronic church.” This refers to the ways that religious communities use the internet as a means to facilitate their religious activities, particularly services of worship. For instance, my grandparents, who belong to the Orthodox Church of America and drive an hour or so to attend liturgy in Corvallis, OR, have the ability to watch liturgy on the church’s website from the comfort of their home. This is a vital tool for them considering that they are not as able-bodied as they once were, and it provides them the opportunity to continue practicing their religion and still feel part of their religious community despite the physical distance.
Outside of the new media spheres that remain private from the very public world, users who engage in interreligious dialogue are very much prone to suffer violent and insulting communication that is born in a virtual sphere.
While this is not always the case, I believe it is a crucial aspect of the subject at hand that needs to be addressed. In the new media world, ‘authentic’ social media users have lost their credibility as reliable sources in recognizing religious realities. Many users choose to turn a blind eye and remain close-minded to the tellings of users in regards to a diverse world of religion that exists both online and offline.
Overall, I agree with John Borelli, a special assistant for interreligious initiatives of Georgetown University, when he says “dialogue is interpersonal communication, and it happens face-to-face. Hard work must be put in person-to-person or in groups of people, face to face. I don’t see how electronic communication can ever replace that.” I stand by the fact that face-to-face communication is king.
However, I don’t see either new media or interreligious dialogue slowing down anytime soon. Therefore, I believe it to be a global duty to empower responsible religious leaders to gain knowledge about the ways new media can be utilized to teach and guide their religious communities. Religious leaders need to be capable of analyzing news media content, understanding the pros and cons associated with the internet and consuming and producing information and opinion. By educating religious leaders on how to navigate the new media, and specifically discussions of interreligious dialogue, they have more power in dispelling misinformation or bias about their own or other religious communities, practices and beliefs.
