My research paper will be on Catholicism and the rise of Social Media. My faith would never be what it is without Catholic communities on various social communities. There aren’t many strong Catholics my age in Keene, which sometimes makes one feel ostracized by the opinions of others louder than oneself. Knowing there are others with the same struggles makes it easier to cope with everyday life and most are supportive and caring towards all.
Thinking about this, I was met with the idea that all Catholics are connected, in a way, through shared traditions and holidays. We have brothers and sisters we don’t know, but we can be assured that we are never truly alone. It was in thinking of this that I truly decided to write about the connection between Catholicism and social media. Social media and smartphones make life of today unique in that it is hard to ever actually be alone - friends, acquaintances, the kid you met the other day in the cafeteria, they’re all in your bedroom via the screen of your iPhone. I wondered, then, if this constant connection has taken on an aspect previously unique to religion. I also want to explore the possibility that social media is changing Catholic values previously unquestioned and whether or not that is a good thing.
This is a very unique and interesting connection. I am a confirmed catholic, and although I do not have the same amount of religious education you seem to, I understand the difficulty of being outnumbered by those who are not religious or of a different faith. I think you have a good idea, a lot of religious communities are becoming interconnected by social media, and it will be interesting to see how you expand on the changing of catholic values. Good luck with your research!
ReplyDelete