I have to admit I was disappointed in this book by Jesse Rice. I purchased it because the title combined two things I find of great interest – the church and Facebook – and its subtitle, “How the Hyper Connected Are Redefining Community,” was intriguing. I had hoped for some practical tips for those in the Christian community on using social networking, but the book focused more on the negative aspects.
The author digresses at length to tell some interesting stories, such as the invention of the air conditioner, the creation of the Palms Islands of Dubai, and the history of the Hubble telescope, but I found these illustrations too numerous and distracting. He also goes into depth about the creation of Facebook and repeats arguments that have become all too familiar of late: that Facebook relationships are less demanding and authentic than real life relationships and that our hyper-connectivity is leading us to continuous partial attention.
Using the illustration of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Rice gives three “tools in the work of co-creating our Facebook worlds”: intentionality, humility, and authenticity. These tools are important for maintaining any type of relationship, however, and those who employ them in face to face relationships probably carry them over to virtual relationships as well.
I am not disputing the negative aspects of social networking, but these have more to do with the weaknesses of human nature and less to do with technology. People have always found ways to waste time and escape from authentic relationships and responsibilities. We wear fake personas and hide our true selves in person as well as online. In my own experience on Facebook I've found I’ve gotten to know people better and shared more with them than I would have without Facebook.
As I finished reading this book, I read the results of a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project released on June 16, 2011. People who use Facebook have more close friends, get more social support, and report being more politically engaged than those who aren’t, according to the report. An earlier report by Pew concluded that the Internet is not linked to social isolation but can lead to larger, more diverse social networks. I wish The Church of Facebook had focused more on these aspects of social networking than the negative ones we hear so frequently.
Well this is my 3rd attempt to post. Hope it takes. I thought the review of the book was excellent. I agree that the problem with facebook is more related to the person than technology. I try to retain my humanity and humility when I post comments, remembering there is a person who is reading this who has feelings. I try not to objectify people simply because it is a cyber communication. In addition facebook has enabled me to have great conversations with old and new friends nationally and internationally. Just think of what facebook made possible in Egypt. I'm sure we still have not discovered just how to use facebook to enhance Christian education and community. I look forward to this great adventure.
ReplyDeleteTherese, I enjoyed your comments and I am still waiting for a good book that will explore "how to use Facebook to enhance Christian education and community." As you mentioned with your reference to what happened in Egypt, Facebook literally has the power to change the course of history; we live in interesting times.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we must learn to live with the changes. My Sunday school class of adults is studying an interesting fiction book called, "Who Stole My Church?" It's about a committee in a church that explores just how changes have come about throughout history, and what's happened in church history changes and today. We're reading it too slowly for myself, but every time I read ahead I make some comment on what I've read ahead and it doesn't fit in with what everyone else has read, so I quit reading it ahead. It's strictly fiction, but I can see where it's opened the eyes of some of our older class members to understanding why we have a contemporary service and why we publicize our church as "Hickory Flat Church" with smaller letters saying, "A United Methodist Congregation."
ReplyDeleteDelia, I've heard of "Who Stole My Church" and I'll put it on my list of books to read. I often wonder why some churches are stuck musically in the last century or so. I love some of the old hymns but also think some of them are dreadful, and I don't have a particular love of the organ as opposed to other instruments. Have you read the book "Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church for All Generations"? Perhaps you can read it while waiting for the rest of your group to get through "Who Stole My Church."
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