Letters: Jan. 13, 1997

FINDING RELIGION ON THE INTERNET

"If Jesus is really online, what's his personal E-mail address? I've got a few bones I'd like to pick with him." RICHARD S. RUSSELL Madison, Wisconsin

The Internet is indeed exploding before our astounded eyes. It is encouraging that the religious world realizes that it must become involved [RELIGION, Dec. 16] if it wants to connect with its membership, especially the youth, who have embraced the new technology. This bombardment and exchange of ideas is both fascinating and frightening. We have all heard of the dangers lurking on the Internet to corrupt our children, and it is reassuring to know there will be a spot on the Net for those who seek spiritual comfort and guidance. MIKE TRAYNOR Glenolden, Pennsylvania

The Internet may be great, but it is also the most compulsive waste of time man has yet devised. Your article adopted an uncritical "wow" attitude toward the Net. Jesus came specifically for those shut out from the good things of life. He challenges us to bend all technology to a human cause, not to plug ourselves in exclusively to a culture that exists only for a small minority. As a Catholic, I will be impressed with the Vatican's presence on the Net only if the church shows an awareness of the Net's prime difference from all other media: it offers two-way transmission of ideas. Communications by the church have always been one way, and it doesn't need the Net for that. Will it listen now? Let us pray but not hold our breath. SEAN O'CONAILL Coleraine, Northern Ireland

Never has there been such an opportunity for the cross-cultural exchange of ideas as the Internet provides. For a person to discover that aspects of his religion are similar to those of another is to open an additional door to the true oneness of humanity. RON SMITH Scotia, New York

With 6 billion potential subjects of this newest evangelization, the revolution possible is beyond even Gutenberg's wildest dreams. But who will be evangelized? And who will do the evangelizing? The creation and maintenance of a Website, as compared with a radio or television broadcast, is neither difficult nor expensive. But only the richest of the people on the planet own the necessary equipment to visit such exclusive religious sites as those of the brothers of Christ in the Desert or the Vatican. The rich are at the top of the information mountain; the poor receive the leavings. While mainline denominations and lesser-known religions get equal time in cyberspace, a realignment of membership will affect only the rich. The poor will still depend on real persons to tend to their spiritual needs. PHYLLIS ZAGANO Boston

It seems as though TIME is being converted into a religious-studies magazine, as an increasing number of cover articles have appeared lately on the topics of God, Jesus and other aspects of religion. Snap out of it! STEVEN ONLEY Bexley, Australia

I had trouble with religion professor William Grassie's statement, "If you believe in an eternal, unchanging God, you'll be in trouble." Just the opposite is true. God is not changing; it is we who are changing in our understanding of God. He is not evolving; it is we who are evolving in our conception of God's redemptive presence in the world. DENA LEE Amherst, Virginia