Technology is good for religion

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/the-religious-authorities-and-pundits-are-wrong-technology-is-good-for-religion/2012/05/31/gJQAsDHi6U_story.html?hpid=z4


Religious leaders have some sort of aversion to technology. You don't see the Pope on his iphone, Iran's Guardian Council and Supreme Leader don't really skype to get messages across. However, the Sikh community recently released a "FlyRight App" which allows Sikhs to alert one another of bigoted airport security staff who might harass them.

This sudden warming up to technology is kind of unexpected. Perhaps this aversion to high-tech utilities in religion is because it allows access to differing ideas-- science, evolution, corruption in the clergy. The Sikh community's embrace of technology should be welcomed; it has helped the community come together, not destroy it. The groups that try to ban technology are probably giving themselves a bad rep; when a member does have access, I feel as if the member would feel betrayed. Isn't it better to support a religion than substituting it? Technology would be able to bring groups together, enhance a sense of community. There are apps for the Bible and the Qur'an-- technology doesn't discriminate.

I found this article interesting, particularly the creation of the App. I agree with the writer of this piece that technology enhances religion. I wish the article gave more examples-- even though it's an Op-Ed, it would've been nice to hear about the opposing point of view. Overall, it was pretty interesting.