Post by Lone Wanderer on Jan 20, 2018 23:42:46 GMT
Does more Internet mean less God? Probably not — but it might mean less church
Source: Is the Internet Changing the Way People Feel About Religion?
McClure compared the responses to determine whether there was a link between time spent online and time spent practicing religion, and whether time spent online resulted in a less exclusive view about which world religions were most valid. His analysis also accounted for variables including the respondent's age, ethnicity, place of residence and political affiliation.
The data showed that, generally, older participants were more likely to be religiously affiliated than younger respondents, and political conservatives were more likely to attend a church than liberals. But McClure ultimately found that, independent of the other variables, "the more time one spends on the internet, the greater the odds are that that person will not be affiliated with a religion."
Respondents who spent more time online were more likely to skip religious services, and were also more likely to take a "pluralistic" view of religion, McClure said. In other words, they were less likely to believe that only one religion was true.
Part of the reason for this may be that the internet exposes users to a huge variety of worldviews, beliefs, and ideas, which may lead individuals to challenge preconceived notions about what is important in their lives, McClure said. "The internet is the perfect breeding ground for new [ideas] that chip away at one's certainty," he said.
Source: Is the Internet Changing the Way People Feel About Religion?
McClure compared the responses to determine whether there was a link between time spent online and time spent practicing religion, and whether time spent online resulted in a less exclusive view about which world religions were most valid. His analysis also accounted for variables including the respondent's age, ethnicity, place of residence and political affiliation.
The data showed that, generally, older participants were more likely to be religiously affiliated than younger respondents, and political conservatives were more likely to attend a church than liberals. But McClure ultimately found that, independent of the other variables, "the more time one spends on the internet, the greater the odds are that that person will not be affiliated with a religion."
Respondents who spent more time online were more likely to skip religious services, and were also more likely to take a "pluralistic" view of religion, McClure said. In other words, they were less likely to believe that only one religion was true.
Part of the reason for this may be that the internet exposes users to a huge variety of worldviews, beliefs, and ideas, which may lead individuals to challenge preconceived notions about what is important in their lives, McClure said. "The internet is the perfect breeding ground for new [ideas] that chip away at one's certainty," he said.