This is a website just launched this past Tuesday, and was promoted by an article on the Time website. Patheos.com is, as the site itself puts it, "the premier online destination to engage in the global dialogue about religion and spirituality and to explore and experience the world's beliefs." The web page includes ten religious "gateways" (although some are still under construction): Buddhist, Catholic, Evangelical, Hindu, Jewish, Humanist, Muslim, New Age, Pagan, and Protestant Mainline. A site for religion. Cool, you think.
Actually, it is cool. Saying just that it's a place to talk about God doesn't bring the whole idea into focus. Patheos.com is a place to explore, experience, and engage in religion. You are able to see to see unbiased, accurate information on multiple world religions. News feeds dealing with each religion are available. In addition, you can talk to people of other faiths, questioning where their religion stands on controversial issues like abortion (or just questioning their religion at all). You can even search for places of worship in your area (did you know there are 391 in Cedar Rapids alone, including Zen and something called Christian Science?), and get links to
religious retreats. This website has it all.
And it's about time. We have all heard the spiel about how we live in a faster-paced, technology-based world. How we want things now, do things quickly, have immediate access to almost anything we want. Religion has always seemed to be a connection to an older, simpler way of life. And I love that feeling- that through a faith I am connected to people that lived hundreds of years before me. But Patheos.com is a connection to the here and now- a second connection that many faiths have struggled to create or maintain in our times. It gives us a picture of other faiths we may not have gotten as easily otherwise(well, you could walk into a mosque, sit and take notes, and ask questions. They actually probably wouldn't mind, but I would find it personally awkward and uncomfortable).
As I was writing this post, I decided to sign up for an account on the website. I have no idea if it will do me any good, but at least it's a chance to connect with people of other faiths out there. It's intimidating though- if I argue for my religion, I had better have the facts to back it up (many of the discussions are filled with research and insight- a setting that prevents the desire to post whatever stupid comment you want). I think I'll observe for a while and watch the website get going. It has great potential- I would recommend checking it out.
Actually, it is cool. Saying just that it's a place to talk about God doesn't bring the whole idea into focus. Patheos.com is a place to explore, experience, and engage in religion. You are able to see to see unbiased, accurate information on multiple world religions. News feeds dealing with each religion are available. In addition, you can talk to people of other faiths, questioning where their religion stands on controversial issues like abortion (or just questioning their religion at all). You can even search for places of worship in your area (did you know there are 391 in Cedar Rapids alone, including Zen and something called Christian Science?), and get links to
religious retreats. This website has it all.And it's about time. We have all heard the spiel about how we live in a faster-paced, technology-based world. How we want things now, do things quickly, have immediate access to almost anything we want. Religion has always seemed to be a connection to an older, simpler way of life. And I love that feeling- that through a faith I am connected to people that lived hundreds of years before me. But Patheos.com is a connection to the here and now- a second connection that many faiths have struggled to create or maintain in our times. It gives us a picture of other faiths we may not have gotten as easily otherwise(well, you could walk into a mosque, sit and take notes, and ask questions. They actually probably wouldn't mind, but I would find it personally awkward and uncomfortable).
As I was writing this post, I decided to sign up for an account on the website. I have no idea if it will do me any good, but at least it's a chance to connect with people of other faiths out there. It's intimidating though- if I argue for my religion, I had better have the facts to back it up (many of the discussions are filled with research and insight- a setting that prevents the desire to post whatever stupid comment you want). I think I'll observe for a while and watch the website get going. It has great potential- I would recommend checking it out.
No comments:
Post a Comment