God Goes Web 2.0

"GodTube.com, a video-sharing site with Christian content, drew more than 4 million unique visitors during October." -Monterey Herald article

It's like Youtube for God, with an astonishing amount of web content and traffic for a new site. Complete with advertising and social networking. I can't help but find irony in the name GodTube. This site, while a great platform for Christianity, makes me wonder if technology will hinder or help religion. Christmas has already been consumed with secular commercialism, is the religion as a whole a commercial commodity in present day society?

Back in the little town I grew up in our church changed pastors and with that came a new look and feel to the good ole word. Power point sermons, photo slide shows accompany worship and choir, and the church website has been revamped and updated. With a majority of our congregation applicable for senior discounts and up to 5 generations of families this was less than favorably received.

Change is hardly ever received well by a faith rooted in tradition and history, but is this for the better or worse? I can see it being used in great ways to target younger generations, but while it alienates their parents and grandparents?

Personally, I find comfort in the church service I grew up with, old hymns and dorky reenactments of Christmas and Easter put on by church members. But as a tech/web 2.0 junkie I find promise in a compromise of both, I hope that web 2.0 doesn’t cannibalize some of my favorite things about church.