Monday 31 January 2011

Exclusion


 http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_christakis_how_social_networks_predict_epidemics.html
Nicholas Christakis shows this connectivity with general health, and it struck a strong cord as a health professional whom had studied sociology.
I am finding it interesting where are social standing and networks can positively or negatively affect our relationships with each other.Our connectivity affects our health behaviours, it can also affect our spiritual health.
As a Christian you end up with a need for 'fellowship' to share your faith, but what if you cannot? 'Homophily' is the need to flock together you look for similarities, and you search them out. So what if your local church does not meet your 'homophily' requirements, suffering a sense of rejection you may search for like minded individuals on web social networks... ie second life facebook etc.
People who do not find themselves within the clusters of positivity within a church specifically seek out other models of fellowship.
Interestingly though these connections we make on the internet are also tainted. Christians come from different cultures, and have expectations projected onto each other of how the other should 'be'.

A specific example some Southern US Christians were horrified that my daughter sang in a Cathedral, viewing traditional worship as 'lazy and lead by satan'. They were 'defriended' on facebook. I personally have experienced other cyber-bullying by Christians who wanted to build a closed network to enforce their roles within a cyberchurch set up called the Second Life Anglican Cathedral. These are needy people needing to have a sense of importance and belonging to the exclusion of others.

This is not of the Principality of God. We are called to share love and be hospitable. We are called to focus on being like Christ not being like what we perceive we should act like a 'church'. The building and our self perceptions become the idol of our worship and that is against the First Commandment. We must blend being local with being global and not impose anything but God.
I challenge you to look at your social networks.. do you have some 'dodgy characters', and do you have those on the magins of church life? Then AMEN you are an Evangelist.

OK is there only me who thinks like this?


Getteth thy act together, Phillips! Lots to do and lots of it involves getting your head into action! WAKE UP!!!
7 hours ago via Twitter ·  ·  · @pmphillips on Twitter
  • You like this.
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones Coffee? Got some Kenya Peaberry to grind.... sending the virtual aroma to you, to WAKE YOU UP
      7 hours ago · 
    • Pete Phillips biggest problem with online experience - no somisthesis
      7 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones Somisthesis? ...... Give it time
      7 hours ago · 
    • Pete Phillips somisthesis - bodily sensory experience. Yoiu can't 'sense' online.
      4 hours ago · 
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones I know what it is ...... it is only a matter of time, let me hunt some references, unfortunately I fear they maybe pornographic, and I am reticent. But I do know the chap who can recreate digital smell.
      4 hours ago · 
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones Ohh yes he is a Christian, and involved in online ministry, and that is how we virtually met.
      4 hours ago · 
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones OK start with cochlea implants?
      4 hours ago · 
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones 
      Now we work via internally through chemico-electrical stimulation and feedback mechanisms, what if they are controlled via external digital mechanisms? Already happens with say pacemakers operating the heart beat.
      What if that mechanism is o...See more
      3 hours ago · 
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones Tell me you did not have the pre-occupation to get coffee, after I mentioned grinding Kenyan Peaberry?
      Phew I kept it clean, but the porn industry is looking at suits you wear that are remotely operated. The reverse of a kinetic suit.
      3 hours ago · 
    • Lorraine Wall-Jones http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13nse_manchester-nti-3d-animation-suit_tech
      What if that translated digital information, transferred to a sensitivity suit? The tech is there for this already....

Thursday 27 January 2011

Time I did summat had it since 2007

Sat at my computer wondering to blog or not to blog that is the question. Everybody else does so?

Scripted Scriptures is waiting to get going AGAIN on osgrid, and I am not sure where it will be taken but if anybody wants to have a play in virtual reality let me know.

Getting pretty despondent about what the government are doing in pulling the plug on the funding for vulnerable people. It could just be hype, but when your family are facing redundancy issues and all they wanted to do is help people it stinks a bit.

Oh and if anybody reads this and would like a Grilli3D http://grilli3d.com/home.html
Then I have some, contact.