Ramdas Lamb
Ex-Hindu monk, professor

Ramdas Lamb

Hindu monk in India from 1969-1978. Professor, University of Hawai’i, world religions and contemporary American religion.

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Searching for God On the Internet

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?

Most people who believe in the concept of a Divine being think he or she lives in a heaven or paradise far above that is the ultimate place of residence for the "saved," while some sort of hell realm below is where the rest will go. However, from a theological perspective, the major theistic traditions say that God is omnipresent. If this is the case, then not only would God be present throughout the universe and within each of us but on Twitter and Facebook as well as throughout the Internet. Theologians also say God in omniscient, therefore he of she would likely know all "tweets," all blog entries, and even all e-mails.

We live in a time in which traditional approaches to finding and communicating with God are losing popularity and practice for large segments of the populace. While many have chosen to simply bypass any attempt to have a divine involvement or relationship in their lives, many others are searching for new ways to find or know God that are more meaningful, capable, and relevant to them than the more traditional methods. This search has led to the appearance of new prophets, religions, denominations, texts considered sacred or true, types of practices, and faith communities. While there are those who see this move as against truth or God, the new approaches have given meaning to the lives of countless others.

The Internet has been an important part of this process. It has also brought together like minded and diverse individuals who participate in online religious discussions and access other forms of participation and involvement previously confined to the traditional religions and religious gathering sites. If one believes the Divine is omnipresent, then such innovative techniques can be as legitimate as the old methods. The real key is what is going on in the minds and hearts of those involved. If I use the Internet to become more involved in my spiritual search and find pages or persons who inspire in me in that direction, then what is the problem?

Within the Hindu tradition, when people come together to converse with or listen to a religious teacher or even like minded individuals seeking a greater spiritual understanding, this practice is called satsang. It is seen within the tradition as a legitimate form of religious practice. The On Faith Forum can be seen in this light as a site for satsang. Twitter and Facebook can also be seen as forums for online satsang. It all depends on what is in the hearts and minds of those involved.

The Internet is a tool, and social networking sites like those mentioned above can be especially useful for communicating both truth and untruth, things divine or things demonic. What actually gets communicated and with whom is up to each individual. Buddhists emphasize the concept of intentionality in determining the quality and karma of actions. If one's intentions are to find ways to hurt oneself or others, the Internet can be used in this way. At the same time, if one's goals are to gain a deeper understanding of and relationship with the Divine, the Internet can be a tool for this as well. The possibilities are limitless. As some of my students might say, "Whatever floats your boat."

By Ramdas Lamb  |  August 11, 2009; 3:49 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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Any rational explanation of God would not include twittering. It makes more sense to think that God would give you the ability to twitter.

D J Wray
http://www.atotalawareness.com

Posted by: djwray | August 19, 2009 3:22 AM
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Guess that's the problem with a God defined as 'Omniscient:' either They already know what you're going to say, or maybe there's some value to the exercise.

In the latter case, I'd suggest the key to prayer is 'Be honest.' not trying to tell 'Omniscience' what it wants to hear. :)

Posted by: Paganplace | August 13, 2009 5:37 PM
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colinnicholas

"Gods don't tweet. They don't even have websites. It's not because they don't care or are too busy, it's because they don't actually exist."

This kind of leads to the question: would you know it if They *did,* and if someone convinced you of such, would it change the universe for you? :)


Posted by: Paganplace | August 13, 2009 2:44 PM
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Gods don't tweet. They don't even have websites. It's not because they don't care or are too busy, it's because they don't actually exist.

Posted by: colinnicholas | August 13, 2009 11:42 AM
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didn't like? 66 better? i dunno.

Posted by: Dermitt | August 13, 2009 10:08 AM
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It is not that god is known but that god is saught. It is not that our knowledge of god is valid, almost certainly it is not, but that our search is valid. Any ahimsic tool is then a good if it helps us to know Tat Sat better - communication in the satsang is a key tool. (jesus is no savior of mine)

hariaum

Posted by: Navin1 | August 12, 2009 1:02 PM
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"We live in a time in which traditional approaches to finding and communicating with God are losing popularity and practice for large segments of the populace."

True, but universal truth is not measured in mass appeal. Just because new gods, prophets and methods of "interacting" with "the divine" are becoming popular, don't validate those gods, prophets or methods. If we're running a popularity contest, then Jesus Christ has been in last place since day one.

But that doesn't make him any less of a Savior.

Posted by: -badkarma- | August 12, 2009 11:47 AM
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ooooppss.

The "KERNEL" is the 'SOUL' of both PC's & 'Virtual-Reality' of the Internet or desk-top!

Note: The "ZERO's (0) & the "ONE's are the "Neurons/Synapsis" and the Results of such "Internet INFO" is what it Is: A Man Made Tool, such that, that Internet is another "Wonders Of [HU{eMATE made] the World... Fo ALL To ENJOY & a Tool To LEARN by & Between ALL Creatures on EARTH & Beyond too!

Beside S.S. Earth, a MIRACLE in Motion (zero SINaps) as a signs of these times, Even the HOLY GRAIL of an Internet is a [Virtual] Miracle. Not Real; but an "ELECTRON-SOUL" & Virtual CONSCIOUSNESS!

An awareness too whose time via holy-TIME (Temperature) is cometh!

Posted by: homeland1 | August 11, 2009 7:33 PM
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Before I begin; It is important to mention Her Honorable Eunice [Kennedy] Shriver [pbuh] who was like Indias "Mother Terresa" [pbuh], but helped countles 'Disadvantaged' Kids and was an upholder, like her Late Prez & Brother Honorable Mr. J.F.K. [pbuh], whom besides encouraging "Good Physical Hygiene" & "Olymipcs" in all the Lands Schools etc.. was a great Promotor of the Virtual INTERNET [Zero Holy].
--
When it Comes to "Satsag" (Congregating/Meeting) that each of Us are an Priest or Priestest. Is to say that by Communicating With All Yo All on WAPO, here, is like a 'Sat-Sag' of its own; or lets say Meeting Of the Mind; DIGiTALLY [0's & 1's, bits & bites, Mega, Gida, Tetra..]!

Yes, Thank The "CYBER G-D's" & the "Cyber Massiah's" (Founders) for Bringing Or Opportunitizing, The GLOBAL-COMMUNITY to Interface Rhiteously as one Big Giant "HARD-DRIVE"!.

Note: I Made my own Little Personal Fortune (not like the big time 'Dot Com' opportunists/players) from the Internet when the Miraculous (G.raphic U.ser I.nterface) "NETSCAPE-BROWSER" came out.

Acsually I was on the Internet Before It became "Public" Internet # 2 Pipe & "Nodes" (#1 pipe & "NODE" is for GOV. & Universitys, science..) spun-off via the "National Science Foundation" way back Pre-1990 when all we had was a black Screnn & White Fonts. i.e. DOS, UNIX, CPM-86... operating Systems (Kernels).

I used to pitch (1989+) the up & comming Internet , aka New Frontier, as an "ELECTRONIC STORE FRONT" that ALL The World can See you & folks did not understand.

Remember "You've Got Mail"? [1st AOL internert Provider & that experience}

Now suddenly every body is NURD or GURU!

PS: Tavern On the Green was my 1st Customer & I would Host (Server) their & other "Clients" Sights at 1-World Trade Center until them SATANIC lovin Versing Jihaddists took , what they could never Create on their Own, Them Down via OUr (not Their) but Hijacked Aeroplanes.

Now Al Islam Has the Internet to Spread their Poison/Dillussion once more. What "TWITS"!

Question: As PROPHETS & maybe god(s); Who Founded the Holy Internet? aJew, aChristian, aMuslom, aHindu, aBuddhist.. Man or Virtual Man?

Posted by: homeland1 | August 11, 2009 6:54 PM
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Posted by: homeland1 | August 11, 2009 6:51 PM
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