I refer you to the article above from The Straits Time, dated 20 January 2010. The article is about the vicar from the St Lawrence Jewry church in London blessing the cellphones and notebooks of those worshippers. The reason the vicar uses this method is to remind the city's workaholics to have time for worship. He also state the technology is our daily working tool and should be bless.From here I can sense the two extreme reactions we can expect from different groups of people. People that are more open-minded will think that is a good initiative by the priest to look at the world from a different perspective and cater to the current trend. There will be another group that must be thinking what the hell is he doing and no way they can accept bringing electronic products to be bless by a priest. This shows that a single act can be interpret differently by different individual.
Personally, I do see this approach as a very interesting and effective way to engage the working class and younger generation.
From my point of view, it all depends on how we see the whole picture and react to it:
- a new approach to engage the church goers
- a way to attract the younger generation to attend church
- the church initiative to come up with "new approach" for church services
I guess afterall it depends on how each of us manage our perception on situations and in this instance the church tried something out of the norm to spread God's grace.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8454032.stm
(Additional news report by BBC News)
So commies, what do you think about this?
I have to say this, your title intrigues! It sounds like the article is going to be funny already just from reading it. :D
ReplyDeleteAmusing how the priest blesses laptops and phones, it would definitely spark a controversy. As a christian myself, I don't really mind it, though I do feel it is kind of odd and not very traditional or purposeful. However, it is daring of the priest to do it.
On a random note, I wonder how did that photo get taken, press aren't allowed in churches during ceremonies. Neither is mobile phones and cameras actually.
Since I am studying about Information Technology and get to spend most of my time on it, I agree that people nowadays spend too much time on their gadgets.
ReplyDeleteWe should all remember that technology can't replace the social relationships and human interactions of our daily lives.
I do curse and swear whenever the pc hang while i am doing my work. Since now we can't part away from technology, therefore, blessing them seem like a good idea?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading some of the comments, i quite agreed with what Jason said.
ReplyDeleteElectronic gadgets had been integrated into people's life nowadays, whatever they do they will certainly come across the usage of those gadgets. Mostly all these gadgets are used for socialising & interacting etc.
But whatever the case is, face to face interaction is the best way of communication as different people tends to interpret messages in different ways.
From my personal point of view, i feel that the notion of a priest blessing technological gadgets may seem to be a rather ridiculous idea. Everybody have a role to play in the society, so do the priest. The priest should uphold the given sacredness. Blessing gadgets make the priest sound/look like what a marketer does i.e using new interesting idea to catch consumer attention.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is still a just-for-laugh article.
This reminds of the time I got my first rosary and bible, I went to the local pastor and he made the proper blessings.
ReplyDeleteIMO, having your personal belongings to be blessed in such manners gives you a piece of mind that God will always be at your side. On the other hand, it would also subconsciously reminds you to avoid doing bad (*wink2*) things when working with the device.
Firstly I have to laugh.
ReplyDeleteBut to bless the items you use regularly so that it functions well seems like a good idea.
(Tongue in cheek)No offense but then soon we should bless our daily items like the air conditioning system to keep us cool in horrid weather and the toilet for allowing us to relieve ourselves.
A very interesting way indeed to spread the religion. As you have mentioned, different people have different reactions based on their perceptions and the way they interpret the news and suggested methods. Im guessing for those who reject the idea that it is largely due to the social context and influence that they grow up upon. To not be near the religious leader or holy place and not to feel its presence while being blessed is just absurb.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel the same way.
Just my two kents worth.
Well I guess with the progress of technology, even religion are looking to progress and keep up with the latest trends and happenings! Without a doubt this casts a shadow over the already "dying" religion. With lesser and lesser devotees it makes us wonder whether the religion will eventually fade into the pages of history.
ReplyDeleteMaybe eventually all of us will become atheists.
This is the classic science vs religion debate that is portrayed in Dan Brown's Angels & Demons.
ReplyDeleteI believe what the priest is trying to achieve is to show that science and religion can coexist together
Technology does indeed has integrated in our daily life, but a blessing to it sounds quite wrong
ReplyDeleteI m a free thinker myself, i think it ok for what the priest is doing and trying to convey. what i feel is that as long as it makes you happy it will be ok .
ReplyDeletefor those who are against it and felt unhappy about it. just forget, move on and be happy ..
i think they might be thinking of using technology to spread their religion throughout the world. maybe that's why the priest bless technology.
ReplyDeleteone thing for sure, we now live in a world of technology. and to keep up the tend, i believe churches are now coming up with new ideas and how to integrate gospel and technology to make it interesting and welcoming to people.
ReplyDeleteas a christian myself, i feel that so long as these technology/gadgets don't alter the intended message, it's perfectly aright.
This article seems interesting.
ReplyDeleteWell, i do agree with what some of your friends/my friends says:
Its true that we're living in the world of technology, and to keep up the trend or to keep the religion going, the use of these electronic gadgets probably will interest/attract the younger generation.
But in my opinion and as a Christian myself. This seems kinda wrong to me.
Blessing the gadgets just seems riduculos.
Beliveing GOD should be solemly a heart to heart beleif between GOD and yourself, and if the use of these electronic gadgets will actually brng about more people coming to chruch / to welcome more people / to remind us to have time to worship GOD, then it'll seem kind of disappointing.
As a Christain, we should have faith in GOD, it should be a simple approach just like millions years ago, how others read GOD's word.