In an earlier post here I note the discussion of “Internet Efficiencies” in Naked Conversation (p.41), where the authors make the point that Google, EBay and Amazon were all able to leverage these “Internet Efficiencies” that planted “word of mouth” all over the Internet.

The word of mouth factor has certainly born itself out, but it is the combination of “word of mouth” with many points of access that gives this kind of news unique impact…IOW, instead of moving across individual conversations from one physical location to another, it moves in and out of individual conversations that have garnered this information and opinion from Web conversations (many or most of these from Blogs), and so the spread of the word is given an exponential boost.

I would add that just as important as the power of this new combination of “word of mouth” and “multiple instances” of placement and access of this word is the personal power— the outlet this provides for the expression of interests , passions, and concerns. The explosion of “categories of interest” in every field imaginable has opened up theological discussion; not just in the halls of academia (although ithas expanded this as well), but also in the churches (although the churches need to AWAKEN to the “efficiencies” offered by the Internet, especially those of the blog and other Web 2.0 features—–yes, I would argue, that blogs are a feature of Web 2.0 —-others may have said the same, but I haven’t run across any of those conversations yet)

The churches need to awaken to this becuase they have allowed themselves to become event driven, and in the process, negelected the task of being a community where people are KNOWN. Blogs have shown how simple reflections on daily events and news, and on media, and books, and politics, and theology, make it possible for us to see into the lives of our fellow members, who may well sit next to us in church, but we have never had the occasion to know that they are thinking similar things, reacting in a similar way, concerned about the same things, including the way in which the church has succumbed to the culture of individualism and thus de-emphasized the need we have to be a place where the normal modes of relationship are challenged, and an alternate consciousness exists.