With proper dues to Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin'”. I found that glaringly evident when, earlier this week, someone sent me the following video that was oringianlly presented to a gathering of SONY executives.
When I watch this video I find myself wondering about the implications for the church, especially as it relates to our mission to extend the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. Some things are exciting, others a little unnerving. See what you think.
I’d be interested in any thoughts that come to mind.
GRACE & PEACE 
Wow! This really puts things into perspective.
Regarding what this info overload means for us personally as individuals, and specifically for the shape of faith and spirituality, it seems that things could potentially be taken quite far in two directions.
1. Now, more than ever before, people have access to any and all info that they need. More than that, there are venues for much needed dialogue and conversation where this massive amount of info can be integrated and processed, be it via email, phone, chat rooms, or as is the case as I write this now, blogs.
2. But, on the other hand, this massive amount of available knowledge, often, rather than freeing people to search and grow, instead stagnates them, creating a protective sense of apathy and even despair. I know from experience the feeling of anxiety that comes when so much info is available at the snap of a finger- there’s a general feeling that tells us since there are so many opinions, “facts”, and perspectives, we will never find the Truth. Especially extending to religion and faith, there are so many different takes on what’s correct, “normal,” or “true”. Furthermore, should we narrow it down to the message of the gospel, given the extremely wide variety of views as to what the essential nature of the gospel constitutes, one almost feels as though it’s a process of picking and choosing…hoping that the view one chooses is the “correct” one. This is unnerving.
There’s also a feeling of insignificance and hopelessness that comes from knowing how huge and painfully fragmented the world really is. With our technology and access to info, we can see tragedy after tragedy occur that generations before us had no means by which to be informed of; yet disturbingly, all the while we are mostly unable to do anything about any of it. When we hear that 800,000 lives are snuffed out silently to the ears of the world- be it by a tsunami or by the hands of fellow countrymen- (and that this is but one example of the continual “norm,”) many aspects of faith, or the gospel, become more difficult to fully grasp in all honesty. Humanity begans to seem like a group of numbers that is very alone in the universe.
I guess that like most things, this info overdrive has its good and bad. But, the fact is that it’s here- and yeah, that is a bit scary.
Anyway, good video- thanks for sharing.