The Internet from Christian and Islamic Perspectives Research Paper

The Internet from Christian and Islamic Perspectives - Research Paper Example Internet in Islam The popular notion, especially in the West is that Islam may not be comfortable with the Internet. Images of censorship and restriction would probably inform this perception. But the fact is that the Internet is accessible to many Muslims across the world. There is no specific Islamic teaching that bars the use of the Internet for Muslims. As a matter of fact, many Muslims are finding the Internet a convenient and useful way to learn not just about common knowledge but also about Islam, its rituals, among other information. Today, both traditional Muslim texts and contemporary Muslim conversation have found their way to the information superhighway (Bowen and Early, 300). Abdulla also pointed out that while Islam is not dependent on the Internet and computers and would not miss it if it disappears, there is still the fact that these technological innovations have expanded several aspects of Islam (62). For example, the Internet is also increasingly becoming a place for Muslims to join together into many communities that strengthen relationship and brotherhood. According to Karagiannis and Wagner, the Internet, along with the so-called "new media", created new forms of Islamic communities, which revolve around shared communications and which bind together new relationships (97). These are made possible by the amount of information that can be accessed as well as the social media (popular among Muslims) and the emergence of the e-mail messaging tool. These facilitate Islamic propagation. The capability of the Internet to be accessible to many people makes it an effective form of evangelizing tool. Many people are learning about Islam online and this is particularly important especially in the era wherein Muslims are constantly being treated with suspicion and Islam, being commonly misinterpreted. Many Muslims find the Internet useful in these areas. The Christian Tradition The utility of the Internet is also true in the case of Christians. Every one agrees that on its positive side and in regards to its technological capabilities, it is important for evangelism and missionary activities. As Campbell explained, from the point of view of many Christians, the Internet serves as "a social technology that helps people of shared faith gather together, thereby connecting those from the same religious tradition who would normally be separated by geography, time and other limitations" (39). This characteristic is supposed to be congruent with the Christian religious concept of the "body of Christ", which in this case manifest in a networked community of believers with the Internet as a medium. The Internet also serve as a resource and communication tool for Christians across the globe in their religious activities, information campaigns, among other evangelical works. It allows the Christian churches to reach out to its flock and facilitates in giving charity, missionary work, among others. Comparison It is important to underscore t hat the positive perspectives on the Internet as demonstrated in the previous sections are both true in the cases of Christianity and Islam. And this is also shown in terms of the negative attitude or perspective towards the Internet is not exclusive to any religion. There are Christian and Islamic values that can be both threatened by the Internet. For example, Christians criticize the uncensored content in the Internet that are made available to