Internet in convents and monasteries
Oct 7, 2009 7:00:11 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2009 7:00:11 GMT
There was an article in the French press about the influence of the internet in religious orders, particularly the contemplative sects that live in seclusion. It would be foolhardy to say that it is mostly extreme introverts who are attracted to such places so that they won't have to deal with the outside world, but there are obviously many such persons in the convents and monasteries of the world.
But there is something new these days -- the internet. Previous generations may have grown up locked in their room reading books or assembling scale models, but the newer generations have spent countless hours on the internet, and that's a whole different ball game.
In any case, the internet has been determined to be somewhat inappropriate for the monastic life. It is not completely banned, but it is extremely limited. However, new recruits have to be weaned away from it slowly, because it is a very hard thing to give up. New monks still want to see the sports results as soon as the matches are over, and many novices still appreciate YouTube or Facebook. But all of that is part of what they are giving up.
The article also points out that the people in charge of convents and monasteries have found it necessary to install the strictest parental control settings on the computers.
I find the idea somewhat sad, but then again I have never had any intention of entering a monastery. However, there was one lovely anecdote about an elderly nun living in total seclusion who discovered Google Earth. She was able to see her childhood home and village in Brittany for the first time in untold years, and it was one of her greatest joys in a long time.
But there is something new these days -- the internet. Previous generations may have grown up locked in their room reading books or assembling scale models, but the newer generations have spent countless hours on the internet, and that's a whole different ball game.
In any case, the internet has been determined to be somewhat inappropriate for the monastic life. It is not completely banned, but it is extremely limited. However, new recruits have to be weaned away from it slowly, because it is a very hard thing to give up. New monks still want to see the sports results as soon as the matches are over, and many novices still appreciate YouTube or Facebook. But all of that is part of what they are giving up.
The article also points out that the people in charge of convents and monasteries have found it necessary to install the strictest parental control settings on the computers.
I find the idea somewhat sad, but then again I have never had any intention of entering a monastery. However, there was one lovely anecdote about an elderly nun living in total seclusion who discovered Google Earth. She was able to see her childhood home and village in Brittany for the first time in untold years, and it was one of her greatest joys in a long time.
