The book's third section concerns New Media and community. Scot Landry and Matt Warner offer a wealth of practical tips on how dioceses and parishes can implement New Media tools. And Lisa Hendey explores the growing online community fostered by New Media's social nature.
The final section covers New Media and the common good. In his chapter, Thomas Peters rallies Christians to be faithful online activists. And Shawn Carney tells the story of how the world's largest pro-life movement used New Media to save lives and change hearts.
In addition to each of these chapters, dozens of sidebars appear throughout the book. Some feature excerpts from Church documents relevant to New Media, while others highlight Catholics who are using New Media creatively and effectively.
Throughout the book, you'll discover many unique vantage points on the Church and New Media relationship, from young to old, clergy to laypeople, and men to women. Since this digital revolution spans all demographics and all spheres of the Church, this book approaches it from many different angles.
One final note: New Media can at times be intimidating. But the learning curve isn't steep, and you're not alone.
To help you out as you journey across the digital continent, I've included a Glossary in the back of the book, which defines some common New Media terms. In addition, the book's Appendix provides many New Media recommendations, while the book's website (www.ChurchAndNewMedia.com) includes even more helpful content.
Giving the Internet a Soul
The Church can't change her responses to Gutenberg's printing press, the radio, or the television; they are forever fixed in history. But at the onset of this digital revolution, her response to New Media is wide open.
The world is waiting and listening in the virtual sphere. Will the Church remain silent, or will her voice be proclaimed from the rooftops (and the laptops)? Will she plunge the message of Christ into Facebook feeds, blog posts, podcasts, and text messages, or will she be digitally impotent?
If the Church's promotion of evangelization, formation, community, and the common good is to continue throughout future generations, she must harness these technologies and utilize them well.
In this book, you'll witness the Church's first steps across the digital continent. And by the end, you'll be compelled to join the march yourself.
May this guide stir your imagination and excitement as you help give the Internet a soul!
"Without fear we must set sail on the digital sea, facing into the deep with the same passion that has governed the ship of the Church for two thousand years.... [W]e want to qualify ourselves by living in the digital world with a believer's heart, helping to give a soul to the Internet's incessant flow of communication. " 22
—Pope Benedict XVI (2010)
The permission to reproduce copyrighted materials for use was extended by Our Sunday Visitor, 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN, 46750, 1-800-348-2440. Website: ww.osv.com. No other use of this material is authorized.
For more conversation on The Church and New Media, including an interview with Brandon Vogt, visit the Patheos Book Club.
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