THE QUESTION

Does God Tweet?

Thanks to new digital technologies, you can 'tweet' prayers via Twitter to the Western Wall or prayer requests to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. You can pray the rosary or pray the hours from your laptop. You can participate in worship services and discuss holy texts via Facebook. You can create and join faith communities on Second Life. Are social media tools a blessing or a curse for people of faith? Should we use digital technology to commune with the divine? Does God tweet?

Posted by Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on August 11, 2009 2:23 PM
FEATURED COMMENTS

skip1223: Seeing the article on whether or not God "tweets" reminds me of many of the conversations I've had with patients. As a hospital chaplain I'v...

Tsfromsua: Of course god tweets. If one dares to search for God by never stop learning about all aspect of humanity, read all types of religious and no...

AliceLMiller: Twitter and the Bible--how they deserve each other. ...

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ALL COMMENTS (27)
Dermitt Author Profile Page :
 

I'm MAD. Can't get a date. I updated tho http://twitpic.com/photos/crashtestreport
I thought it was a crush and it turned into a crash party. You know or if You don't, God knows. Either way, You are Great! Live in peace-Rest in peace.

 
Tsfromsua Author Profile Page :
 

Which combination of things/ideas make up your god to help you decide if your god tweets or not?
1. The one (possibly a group), if there is, create the universe even if there is no humans exist.
2. The commonality of the nature born part of human intelligence system and spirit of all humans.
3. Using your natural born intelligence system, your mind collects certain amount of knowledge that makes you conscious of yourself and others. Due to the consciousness of human capability of creation, you conclude that you and everything else also must be created.
4. The set of knowledge/value/feeling you understand/perceive/feel is the absolute truth, the spirit within yourself that carries out your version of truth.
5. The most optimal compromised set of rules on sharing the limited resource on earth, and the part of humanity that is carrying out the compromised rule set.
6. As people get oppressed, eventually, a group of humans will rebel to gain the freedom. That collective set of courageous spirit.

I hope I did not miss any. If I do, please add so I can learn from you. Until each human can clearly identify the make up of their own god and other peoples god, we are in a endless discussion and conflict, like the never stop ocean waves. If you enjoy the wave-ly boat ride, you are going to have a great time in the cradle of life; otherwise, you will get sea sick while you tweet.

 
HumanSimpleton Author Profile Page :
 

No, because figments of imagination cannot tweet.

Reality dictates that.

 
Tsfromsua Author Profile Page :
 

Does anyone every wonder how commands are send and cause ourselves into action? Do some observation and discovery. In the end, everyone observer will concluded that own and other people's voice, own thoughts, and feelings generated by one's body are the commands to cause a person into action.

Out the several ways the commands are sent, Self talk is one the most effective method to manage ourselves. Praying is the best form of self talk because the optimal commands are sent when the person is in the most sincere mental state (best listen mode).

This is not to say there is no god, the creator. My observation is that most people lack understand of their own spirit. They conclude their own version of thoughts is the truth of god. By doing so, every person create their own version of god that often conflicts with each other. These personal version of gods argue, fight, war with each other.

I suggest we learn, understand which part is God, which part is ourselves. God, please guide all humans to do that.

 
skip1223 Author Profile Page :
 

Seeing the article on whether or not God "tweets" reminds me of many of the conversations I've had with patients. As a hospital chaplain I've been privy to many stories of faith. We are not to proselytize but simply affirm the patient's faith journey, whether they be Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist. I've had my faith strengthened as I've listened to many witnesses; these conversations have given me perspectives on God that I may not have considered if I hadn't allowed the patient (or family member) to share their journey as I allow people to speak their language of faith. This is what Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23, doing whatever it takes in a situation to bring people to God. While this is not what I do in the hospital setting I use what I learn from patients' witnesses to reach those who need to hear God's truth for them. Using Facebook or Twitter is just another way to get God's message to those who may not hear it any other way. Many of my clergy colleagues are already using the social websites to reach members of their congregations, aware of the need to use whatever tools are available, as Paul did, to spread God's Word.
Rev. Skip Jordan, MCC Washington, Washington DC

 
Tsfromsua Author Profile Page :
 

Of course god tweets. If one dares to search for God by never stop learning about all aspect of humanity, read all types of religious and non religious books. He/she will discover that the divine spirit of all religion is the divine human spirit. His/her personal god is his/her set of believes mixed within his/her personal spirit.

Put the question of how we got here aside,the god each person referring to is him/her-self. Of course, we tweet.
_____________ Do not agree___________
Think about, if all Christian disappear, the god create by Christians will disappear at the same time; if all Muslim disappear, the god create by Muslim will also disappear; The same goes all other sets of religious believes and atheist believes. As long as a human is alive, the human spirit and the personal version of god will exist.

 
Tsfromsua Author Profile Page :
 

Of course god tweets. If one dares to search for God by never stop learning about all aspect of humanity, read all types of religious and non religious books. He/she will discover that the divine spirit of all religion is the divine human spirit. His/her personal god is his/her set of believes mixed within his/her personal spirit.

Put the question of how we got here aside,the god each person referring to is him/her-self. Of course, we tweet.
_____________ Do not agree___________
Think about, if all Christian disappear, the god create by Christians will disappear at the same time; if all Muslim disappear, the god create by Muslim will also disappear; The same goes all other sets of religious believes and atheist believes. As long as a human is alive, the human spirit and the personal version of god will exist.

 
pseudo Author Profile Page :
 

Note to Sally and Jon:

Mayhap the Gods are there to see
Perched up in blackberry trees

Dyspeptic blog's insipid topics
Of Godlike tweets for blog myopics

Could they be much more absurd
Than thinking Gods but tweety birds?

If they expect much more than mirth
They've slipped the surly bonds of earth

 
jeangerard1 Author Profile Page :
 

Thanks, Onofrio! That just about does it!

 
jeangerard1 Author Profile Page :
 

Thanks, Onofrio! That just about does it!

 
DwightCollins Author Profile Page :
 

If you have been wirh GOD in the good and the bad...
he is with you...
thats all you need to know...

 
CalP Author Profile Page :
 

I apologize for the reprints of my submission, but it took me several tries before I saw that it was printed.

Should anyone be interested in continuing discussions with me about my concept of God, I can be contacted at neophyte12000@yahoo.com .

 
CalP Author Profile Page :
 

As one who believes in God as who, what, or whichever Presence was in the Beginning, I believe that nothing can happen in this world unless it is permitted by either God's "Permissive" or "Purposefull" Will. I believe that everything comes from God, and if we have computer technology and other technology today, it is because God permits it to be so. I also believe that Science is the gift given to us by which all things will eventually be made known or revealed.

Of course God "tweets" every second of every day. The problem is whether or not we have access to the right computer programs to listen to the tweet. Sometimes we ask God for answers in forms such as: "Touch me and let me know you are here". But when the answer comes by allowing a butterfly to alight on your shoulder, you might just brush it away without recognizing the blessing in the form that it is sent you.

 
CalP Author Profile Page :
 

As one who believes in God as who, what, or whichever Presence was in the Beginning, I believe that nothing can happen in this world unless it is permitted by either God's "Permissive" or "Purposefull" Will. I believe that everything comes from God, and if we have computer technology and other technology today, it is because God permits it to be so. I also believe that Science is the gift given to us by which all things will eventually be made known or revealed.

Of course God "tweets" every second of every day. The problem is whether or not we have access to the right computer programs to listen to the tweet. Sometimes we ask God for answers in forms such as: "Touch me and let me know you are here". But when the answer comes by allowing a butterfly to alight on your shoulder, you might just brush it away without recognizing the blessing in the form that it is sent you.

 
CalP Author Profile Page :
 

As one who believes in God as who, what, or whichever Presence was in the Beginning, I believe that nothing can happen in this world unless it is permitted by either God's "Permissive" or "Purposefull" Will. I believe that everything comes from God, and if we have computer technology and other technology today, it is because God permits it to be so. I also believe that Science is the gift given to us by which all things will eventually be made known or revealed.

Of course God "tweets" every second of every day. The problem is whether or not we have access to the right computer programs to listen to the tweet. Sometimes we ask God for answers in forms such as: "Touch me and let me know you are here". But when the answer comes by allowing a butterfly to alight on your shoulder, you might just brush it away without recognizing the blessing in the form that it is sent you.

 
CalP Author Profile Page :
 

As one who believes in God as who, what, or whichever Presence was in the Beginning, I believe that nothing can happen in this world unless it is permitted by either God's "Permissive" or "Purposefull" Will. I believe that everything comes from God, and if we have computer technology and other technology today, it is because God permits it to be so. I also believe that Science is the gift given to us by which all things will eventually be made known or revealed.

Of course God "tweets" every second of every day. The problem is whether or not we have access to the right computer programs to listen to the tweet. Sometimes we ask God for answers in forms such as: "Touch me and let me know you are here". But when the answer comes by allowing a butterfly to alight on your shoulder, you might just brush it away without recognizing the blessing in the form that it is sent you.

 
Dermitt Author Profile Page :
 

It crashed on me, butt I survived.
http://twitter.com/crashtestreport
Your result may vary. Survive or else don't. God doesn't crash. You can't vlv on Twitter. It could at any time, so it might.

 
flyersout Author Profile Page :
 

Tweeter de dee,

Twetter de di.

The fictional Jew patriarch in
the sky, 15 miles the other side
of cloud 9, will not be participating or even listening
or watching.

You can believe that his well paid
clergy, and the unholy "churches"
they represent, will be !!!!!!!!

 
A_V_G Author Profile Page :
 

@Athena

The question is a bit misleading, and I doubt that anyone actually considers the 'virtual world' to be virtual seriously. Computers, optical cables, RAM and electrons are no less part of the world than people, books and stones. Technically speaking, avatars are just a bunch of electrons in capacitors on a piece of RAM, just a high-tech way to go to a masquerade ball without going anywhere.
Same for Skype, no one would really think that the person on the other side is in any way virtual. So the question is a bit silly (sorry).

 
AliceLMiller Author Profile Page :
 

Twitter and the Bible--how they deserve each other.

 
Athena4 Author Profile Page :
 

This may seem like a stupid topic, but it's quite interesting to some of us. Actually, I was just talking about something similar the other night with my husband. I am curious as to how Pagan groups - which were in the forefront of Web 1.0 - are making use of new media. Unlike Christians, Jews, and Muslims, we who follow the Old Ways are often separated by large geographical boundaries and can't always find a local group. I am also curious about how other religious denominations are using new media, to make a comparison. Do groups hold worship services in virtual worlds like Second Life, or in conferencing features over Skype? Do people who are very religious take on a character like a priest, monk, or nun in MMORPGs? I'm looking at this more from a sociological aspect rather than as a user. I have no desire to get involved in Second Life or World of Warcraft, and I don't Twitter. However, I am interested in the spiritual behavior of those who do. Please post your experiences, and don't let the idiots discourage you!

 
A_V_G Author Profile Page :
 

It's really hard to give a truly meaningless response to that question.
Here's a meaningful response:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dLAv0NklTg

 
WmarkW Author Profile Page :
 

Have they run out of inoffensive material for questions of the week?

Either they need to shut that feature down, or start asking real questions like whether we should discourage Muslim immigration, if the African-American community has too much religion, or if relgiosity is inversely related to intelligence.

 
A_V_G Author Profile Page :
 

No, but, the holy ghost does (God's laptop broke five months ago).

http://www.facade.com/tarot/personal/?Date=8%2F12%2F2009&Query=Does+God+tweet%3F&Name=&Deck=voodoo&Reading=celtic_cross&UID=703222&Reverse=on

...buuuuuuuuhhh... uuuuuiiiuuhhhh...

 
onofrio Author Profile Page :
 

How might God’s mighty tweeting sound?

A cosmic finch with comets downed?

Or more a bleat of teeming herds,

treading under hoof their t-rds,

while hounds and shepherds, toiling hard,

goad them to the slaughter yard.

Perhaps it plays, this tweet, like strains

of Bach distending serpent veins

across the brows of choristers,

beside the pulpit’s balusters.

And then again, the tweet may seep

through daylit dreams as the children sleep,

and clutch their sun with screeching chill,

twig fingers at the window sill.

 
alltheroadrunnin Author Profile Page :
 

Climacus. I agree. Who are these people?

 
Climacus Author Profile Page :
 

Another inane topic. Way to phone it in this week, Jon and Sally. Or is that tweet it in?

 
 
 
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