The Internet in Mission and Ecumenism ... - Reformiert online

A few years ago one of our visiting professors, Prof. Fore started a website – Religion
Online. He asked me whether I could help him in collecting files which I did for him.
(http://www.religion-online.org/). The purpose was to provide a number of books and articles on the
website for the sake of the students, and other researchers from the developing nations, who
cannot afford to buy the expensive books from the West. Today it is one of the top most visited
websites in the area of religion.
Some individuals use websites for different purposes which are often ecumenical and
dialogical, though limited in service, and not representative of their churches’ or institutions’ views.
Some are doing mission in the sense of social networking: development, oriented websites and
religious dialogue programmes which are helpful to communities at large 20 . Among them only a few
are aware of the advanced technological capabilities, and culture of interaction and communication
which is rapidly developing through the net. This knowledge would have enabled them to be more
interactive, effective and participatory in their mission.
f. Yahoo groups
Besides an e-group for the interfaith dialogue, I maintain a network of NGOs who are working
among Refugees and a group for the communication scholars at South Asian level to share our
theories and concepts. A few others have email lists for other interested groups and members.
These groups are seen as interactive groups where people express their views freely. Through our
efforts we have created our own space for communication. At times through these networks we,
the members, feel that we are doing something for the development of others such as refugees
and poor people. Recently we have started an e-group for the pastors who are interested in
HIV/AIDs awareness and for theologians who are interested in ecological issues. The messages
are made available for anyone to have access.
Even though these e-groups help us to organise major conferences, seminars, dialogue
and other projects, I do not receive any financial support to run these groups. Some of the
international organisations have asked me whether they could run similar e-groups. I have given
them guidance regarding these groups. The Government of India has blocked some of e-groups
and so I have started constructing websites for these e-groups. My e-groups on interfaith
interaction is under construction and the address is www.interfaithinteraction.org. We plan to have
an interactive page on this website, as the e-groups were blocked only recently after a major
International conference in Bangalore in August 2003. The problem with all the above methods is
that we have not yet explored the other ways of doing mission. There are other e-groups who
network Christians, Churches and NGOs from all over the world. We need to network those who
are engaged in this networking ministry 21 . Those who are interested in doing mission have not
come to grasp the culture of the net. We are accustomed to send and receive mail by air or sea
which takes days and at times months.
20 http://www.cmai.org/memb-mp.htm
This is a website of Christian Medical Association of India. This website has lots of information about medical
work in India. Who is the audience? In what way does it attract the audience? What are the ways of
interaction with their promotional work on awareness and networking? These are a few questions that one
needs to ask about this website. More people from abroad would have visited this page than many Indians.
http://www.hmiindia.com/academic_04.htm
This is the website of Henry Martin Institute which also provides information about their programmes and
activities.
21 Some examples of other groups can be seen in these websites which are mainly for Indian Christians
http://asiapacificuniverse.com/asia_pacific/messages30/358.html
http://www.ayrookuzhiyil.bravepages.com/links.html
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