Does the Internet influence thinking?
This is one of those questions that interests me, especially as a Christian web master. What influence does the Internet have? I read somewhere that what we read has a great influence on the way we think. This was put down to spending more time thinking about something when we read it that we would spend if we saw it on T.V. for instance.
The Obama political campaign to get elected used the Internet extensively and many credit this use with his election.
In fact it is hard to find any research that would refute the Influence of the Internet to change the way people think.
Given this simple fact I think we then have to ask: who is providing the material for the Internet?
In general such people are technically savvy and keen to try new things. They tend to be the people who want to spend nearly all of their time in front of a computer. I guess if we are using generalisations then we might say they were Geeks.
From what I understand there is a slightly higher level of liberal beliefs and atheism within this group of people. Don’t misunderstand anything I’m saying as being political here.
But Christians should take note that the people who contribute most to the Internet (and therefore are able to have a greater influence through it) are not going to be promoting (in general) things that are positive about Christian beliefs and values.
Where does that leave us? Well, I think it must be a challenge to Christians. We must not set ourselves up with our only little online spaces and never venture outside them. It is very important that Christians engage with others online and in the kind of places that people more generally congregate.
