21st Century Worship: The Positive Influence Tech Is Having On Religion

Tech is something that is having an effect on just about every part of our lives in the 21st century, and our religious practices are no exception to that. In fact, there are plenty of ways that tech is having a positive influence on religion that are explained below. Read on to find out more.

Relevance

One way that tech is having a positive effect on religion is that it is being used to make it much more relevant to modern life. A particularly compelling example of this is in Christian churches in the US and UK that have adopted a tech-savvy way of presenting sermons, connecting members and even running their services.

In fact, increasingly you will find drafty old churches replaced by modern buildings that have large projector screens at the front where sound bites and videos are shown.

Then there is also the use of sound and lighting equipment to make the music and spoken parts of the services more dynamic. Tech influence can even be seen in the LED Signs for Churches that are used outside of the building to appeal to a younger and more tech-savvy generation. Something that is essentially helping these institutions from becoming outmoded and only serving an aging congregation.

Information

Next, tech is hugely essential to individual religious choices because of all the information that we can so easily access now, online. This means if we have any particular questions about the Torah, Bible, Quran or any other religious text we can quickly look these up along with commentary to help us get a better understanding.

Such an ability should not be overlooked either, as it provides people with not only the opportunity to research into their own faith, but also look for the common themes that run between all of the major religions. Something that can help to foster ecumenical understanding and a greater tolerance in the world.

Access

Next, a fantastic benefit that tech is having on religion is that it provides easy access to worship for many people that would not be able to attend the religious services or sermons that they want.

For example, you will find many videos of services, and celebrations from religions of all types on platforms such as Youtube, as well as embedded in religious organisations own sites.  Something that can allow those separated by distance, circumstance, or ill health to still access to their chosen organisation and the messages that they are preaching.

Integration

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly one of the key positives that tech is having on religious practice is the way it can integrate it into our everyday's life. This is, of course, a message that many religions preach, with Buddhists referring to it as 'taking their practice off the cushion.'

Ths integration can happen mainly because of the introduction of mobile apps. Some good examples of which are one that reminds Muslims of the times of call to prayer and the direction of Mecca, Christians of a bible verse for each day, and ones that provide Buddhists with dharma talks from which they can gather inspiration, to name but a few.