Читать книгу Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion: 2011 Edition - Pamela J.D. Dewey - Страница 15

Fifty years ago it was a major effort for an aspiring new guru to find prospective followers. Now he can grab them as they surf by on their way to check the latest forecast on Weather.com! With the right web-design software and just a bit of programming savvy, a single individual can have a religious website that is as elaborate and impressive as that of a major church denomination. And he can be as formal or as folksy as he chooses, setting the tenor of his ministry. No one need know it is just one man and his PC in a small apartment in a small town. He can craft a persona to present to the public that has nothing to do with his real world. He can even go online himself to get a variety of degrees and credentials from questionable, unaccredited cyber colleges and other institutions, and string BA, MA, and ThD after his name on his home page—next to the digitally touched-up picture of himself and his lovely wife. Few potential supporters will bother to look up the details of the source of his academic credentials.

When his ministry grows, his website can grow with it. What was first just a few pictures and articles can grow to include daily sermons in streaming audio or video. He can post whole books outlining his own theology online to read, daily news reports of the progress of the ministry and its projects, and forums on which supporters can share their enthusiasm for what they are learning from their chosen guru with others of like mind. At the bottom of every page of the site can be the link to click to immediately make a credit card donation to the ministry.

Fifty years ago, the average preacher had to get on the sawdust trail, preaching in tent revivals across the land, if he wanted to get a wide audience to pay attention to him. Now a preacher can gather supporters while sitting at his own desk, and enter the living room of every one of them who has a computer every day—even multiple times a day. And he can create the illusion of a personal relationship with each one.