For my final paper for the class I am thinking of looking at a large synagogues’ use of technology and how it reaches out to its members through technology. I will talk about how both of these use social networks like Facebook and twitter to build a support network not only within the synagogue but while they are at home. I want to compare how a big synagogue like Temple Emanu-El in New York City uses technology, versus a smaller temple like the one that my family belongs to in New Jersey, and how they reach out to its congregants through technology, and which one is more successful.
Specifically how each of them reaches out to its younger members through technology in innovative, creative, and fun ways to get the youth interested in education and religion. This could be through technology within religious youth groups like using Facebook to harvest virtual friendships on Facebook.
Also live webcasts of services so that one never has to leave their home, but can still observe. These live webcasts, plus apps that make holy books and religious texts accessible, are proof for Bellah’s assertion of religious privatism. We want to be able to choose the way we observe our religion and we don’t feel that we necessarily have to attend services, when we can access services from the comforts of our couch at home.
I also found apps that are associated with this idea of connection- not only to a synagogue but to Jews around the world. One app called “Western Wall 3D Interactive Virtual Tour- Jerusalem in the Jewish Faith” allows the person to visit the holiest site in Jerusalem from home. Going to Jerusalem is an extremely spiritual experience, and for those that might not be able to make the long and expensive journey, it allows them to again experience the holiest site in Jerusalem from their home. It is not only a spiritual tool, but an educational tool. Thus apps are making spirituality accessible to everyone! It is a free app, whereas traveling to Israel from the USA costs thousands of dollars. This is only one app of many that makes religion accessible. More apps such as a Jewish calendar, Kosher cookbook, 250 Jewish recipes, allow for one to easily maintain a Jewish lifestyle.
I will connect these apps to Bellah’s idea of religious privatism, to Facebook friendship circles, to Apple’s customizing of religion, and to the anonymity of having private spiritual engines and how Lanier says this is destructive.
I will refer back to how a larger congregation does this versus a smaller congregation and if there is any difference at all.
There are lots of good ideas here. My worry is that you will not have enough focus here. I could see you writing about just the use of Apps in the Jewish community or about the web strategy of a synagogue. I feel like those are two different papers and you should choose between them. Of course, the connection to Bellah is welcome. You might hone the question you ask with regards to Bellah. So, try to dig into Bellah for the topic you choose, whether it be about building community at a local synagogue through technology or about the larger imagined community of the online world.
ReplyDelete