By Ida Smith-Williams
In a previous post I summarized how worshipers use the Web and email for religious purposes. Today I'll examine whether different types of worshipers "surf for God" differently.
First, is there a difference between Protestants and Catholics? More conservative Protestants use the Internet for various religious activities than do mainline Protestants or Catholics, with the exception of a few items.
Online Activity by Faith Group
| Online Activity | Ca | CP | MP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find information about own faith | 44% | 48% | 49% |
| Find information about other faiths | 19% | 28% | 38% |
| Faith-oriented chat rooms | 2% | 5% | 4% |
| Find a new church | 8% | 12% | 8% |
| Online worship services* | 2% | 15% | 6% |
| Faith-oriented listserv* | 13% | 30% | 22% |
| Give/receive faith-oriented guidance |
11% | 17% | 14% |
| Find ideas for religious ceremonies | 16% | 22% | 13% |
| Find ideas for celebrating religious holidays |
15% | 19% | 16% |
| Find religious activities for children | 9% | 6% | 4% |
| Download or listen to religious music* |
20% | 45% | 34% |
| Read online news about religious activities |
30% | 44% | 41% |
| Make a donation to a faith-based group |
14% | 18% | 8% |
| Visit an online social networking site |
8% | 12% | 11% |
| Explore non-traditional faith practices |
5% | 4% | 7% |
| *Statistically significant difference between faith groups (p < .005) Note: Ca= Catholic, CP= Conservative Protestant, MP= Mainline Protestant | |||
In all three groups, the largest numbers look for information about their own faith (mainline Protestants, 49%; conservative Protestants, 48%; Catholics, 44%) and for information about other faiths (38%; 28%; 19%). The three activities where there are significant differences among these groups are: participating in online worship services, participating in a faith-oriented listserv or email service, and downloading or listening online to music with religious or spiritual themes.
When it comes to using email, mainline Protestants are more likely than other worshipers to use email in each of the ways we asked about:
Use of Email by Faith Group
| Use of Email | Ca | CP | MP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Received email from leader* | 16% | 40% | 62% |
| Received email from congregation* | 23% | 43% | 52% |
| Participated in a listserv or email service |
5% | 9% | 13% |
| Conducted any congregational business* |
11% | 21% | 38% |
| Plan an event for the congregation* |
12% | 18% | 34% |
| Contacted another member* | 30% | 50% | 67% |
| Forwarded an email with spiritual content* |
23% | 34% | 38% |
| *Statistically significant difference between faith groups (p < .005) Note: Ca= Catholic, CP= Conservative Protestant, MP= Mainline Protestant | |||
Second, do women and men use the Internet differently? Female worshipers are more likely than male worshipers to use the Internet for giving and receiving spiritual guidance and for finding religious activities for their children. Male worshipers were more likely to participate in online social networking sites for religious purposes. Men and women were equally likely to participate in online worship services and to use the Internet to explore non-traditional faith practices. (There were no significant gender differences in regards to email use.
Online Activity by Gender
| Online Activity | Females | Males | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participate in online worship services | 6% | 6% | |
| Give/receive spiritual guidance* | 16% | 10% | |
| Search for religious activities for children* | 9% | 4% | |
| Explore non-traditional faith practices | 6% | 6% | |
| Visit online social networking sites* | 8% | 13% | |
| *Statistically significant difference between men and women (p < .005) | |||
As computer usage and technology increase, it will be interesting to see how this continues to impact religion in the future.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, Even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12
SOUL2SMINISTRIES
P. O. BOX NO. 3. TENALI- 522 201. GUNTUR (DT) A. P. INDIA
=====================================================================
Rev. P. EPHRAIM
To,
Dear servants of God
Greetings to you in the most precious name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Let me introduce myself that my Name is Rev. P. Ephraim, We have established a Christian Organization named "Society of the Prince of Peace" with the Help of some Faithful Christians. We established this society only because that we can proclaim the spirit of God in our Area. Some of our Gospel Teams have been Distributing the Bible free Tracts and Booklets in the particular centers Hospitals, Educational Centers and some Remote villages of our Area. By the Grace of God we are running a Christian Lending Library in my town since 1997. So many people are come and search the scriptures and saved their souls to our Lord’s kingdom through these scriptures. I will be able to succeed this program. So we request you please pray for my spiritual need and send some Bibles, Bible based material to my library purpose.
We have A Good Team of Youth 15 member, they are all involved Tracts distributions, street preaching and they are visit to some remote villages and proclaim the God’s words and distribute the free tracts and new testaments. So we need some more Gospel tracts and Library material to my area people spiritual help. Kindly consider my request and send the above material to me. We win some souls here through these materials. God bless you always. I am waiting for your kind reply.
Pls Prayer for our Need ‘s : - OUR TEAMS ARE VISIT TO SOME REMOTE VILLAGES , AND SPREED THE WORD OF GOD AND DISTRIBUTE THESE TRACTS FREELY. OUR TEAMS VISIT TO HOSPITAL EDUCATIONAL CENTERS WEEKLY ONCE I HAVE NEED OF MORE THEN TRACTS & BIBLE'S . . .
Therefore Brother as you too know pretty well as all these services are Herculean tasks and as such, we are humbly and earnestly requesting and imploring that please kindly pray for the total augmentation of our respective ministry here in India . With pleasure, your physical presence here with us is highly solicited according to your tentative schedule and as per God’s Will. We will pray for your visit to India and its grand success. We do hope you may react peacefully and consider our this specific request with kind heart and also with prayerful outlook.
It is our humble request please kindly visit once our ministry website with pleasure.
See Our Web Site : - www.soulsaveministriesindia.blogspot.com
Please pray for us as we pray for you. We shall await for your further the most valuable and prayerful response at an earliest with good anticipation and fervent hope.
We pray for you and your Family and also your ministry in my Regular prayers.
I Have need Computers in my ministries work
WE NEED YOU! Please Help Us. We especially need monthly donors
May God Bless U
Yours in His service forever
Rev . P. Ephraim
I HAVE NEED OF MORE THEN Tracts& CD IN MY MINISTRIES WORK
Posted by: P.EPHRAIM | 02/17/2011 at 10:07 AM