Online conferencing and worship
I’ve been reading about a study that was taken about people listening to speeches via video conferencing. When people are removed from direct contact with a speaker (this was in a public speaking context where the main speaker was broadcast to other locations) where they don’t think the speaker can see, or even hear, them they react very differently than if they were in the room with the speaker.
In the room with the speaker people pay more attention and tend to react more positively to the speaker, whereas those who are not in direct often move around, get cups of coffee, have conversations with others, react with noises to bits they don’t like (sighing, tutting, negative comments).
I think that has implications for trying to get worship on to the Internet. We are mistaken if we think that people are going to be paying as much attention to a sermon, say, or singing, or prayers. The removed nature of the experience will create a different response in the listeners.
I think this also raises important questions about virtual worlds (e.g. Second Life) and how effective they can be as a way to communicate the gospel. The different kind of relationship that such places create complicates things.
I am becoming more and more convinced myself that the Internet can only ever be seen as a tool in mission and evangelism. There will always be a need for face to face relationship building and that the web is simply the tool that will help that to happen.
Relationships seem to be the prime way that people become Christians and although online relationships can be formed they will never replace the kind of relationship that physically meeting creates.
