Technology & Spiritual Practice Resources (Online, Video, and Books)
General resources/Innovation networks/conferences:
- Alltop ChurchTech Listing (Christian)
- Churchcrunch (Christian)
- Darim Online (Jewish)
- Echo Church & Media Conference (Christian)
- Internet Evangelism Day (Christian)
- Leadership Network (Christian)
- Ministry Marketing Coach (Christian)
- Mormon.org and Greg West blog (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)
- Patheos (interfaith)
- Progressive Muslim Meetup Groups
- Religion & New Media Wiki (interfaith)
- Synagogue 3000 (Jewish)
- The Networked Congregation (Christian)
- The Networked Congregation Guide (non denominational)
- United Muslim (Muslim)
Sampling of online tools:
- Community Building Tools: OnTheCity
- Cyber Tours: Aish.com Virtual Jerusalem
- Discussion Forums: Talk Islam Ecunet
- Distance learning courses: Sewanee.edu, Brigham Young University Courses
- Live Streaming: US Church Stream (consultancy), Live Streaming on iPhone
- Mobile Applications: http://www.olivetree.com (Palm devices), Christian Living Apps for the iPhone, Halal Restaurant locator for the iPhone
- Online only churches: http://www.lifechurch.tv/ , Online Mission Trip; Spark.com (coming soon), Anglican Chat (online chatroom)
- Podcast Talks/Sermons: Rabbi Jim, www.oneplace.com; www.godcast1000.com
- Online Magazines: Busted Halo
- Online Prayer Requests: Western Wall notes delivery
- Online Safety: www.safefamilies.com; www.xxxchurch.com; http://www.covenanteyes.com
- Realtime Chat: Mecca.com, LDS Customer Service Chatroom
- Software: www.christianfreeware.org
- Social Networks: beliefnet.org, Gaia Community, Soulpancake.com (for youth), www.mychurch.org; www.xianz.com, MyCatholicVoice, godtube.com, Facebook, Myspace, Mecca.com tangle.com
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Twitter: PrayerOnTwitter,Gospelr.com, Twitter for Churches
- Video: ShoutChurch, YouTube, Just life TV, Virtual Rabbi
- Virtual Worlds: religion in Second Life (NBC News), Guided tour of spirituality in second life, Virtual Hajj, LDS Plaza
- Widgets: Charter for Compassion, http://www.thejesustv.com/main/
Books*:
- Exploring Religious Communities Online: We are One in the Network, Hiedi Campbell
- Groundswell, Charlene Li
- Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations, Clay Shirkey
- iMuslim: Rewiring the Muslim World, Gary Bunt
- Millenium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church, M. Rex Miller
- Speed: Learning to Survive in a more-faster-now world, Vince Posente
- The Medium and the Light: Reflections on Religion, Marshall McLuhan
- Working Across Generations, Frances Kunreuther
Reports:
- New Research Describes Use of Technology in Churches, The Barna Group
- The Networked Congregation: Embracing the Experience of Experimentation, Andrea Useem
- "Us Now": Brialliant 1 hour documentary on the power of technology-driven collaboration to change government and other institutions
- "Social Media in Plain English": Simple explanation of Web 2.0 in minutes
- "What is Web 2.0": 5 Minute overview of how the Internet is changing and challenging everything
- "Did You Know 3.0": 5 minute overview of the rapid pace of technology developments through statistics
Videos on Understanding Social Media:
Website & Communications Consultants:
Testing your Digital Literacy:
What kind of a technology user are you - beginning, intermediate, or advanced? Take the Pew Test to find out. And take the test here to determine if you are truly a "Social Citizen" in the area of technology.
*A more extensive listing of Books & Reports can be found on pages 48-55 in The Networked Congregation
