While there is a lingering culture fascination with New Year's resolutions, the emphasis is clearly making rather than keeping them. As one who has resolved more often than not to refrain from making such resolutions I surprised myself by making one in 2012. I have managed to keep it, but have found it to be more challenging than anticipated on a few occasions. So What? We have reached the mid-point of 2012: six months experienced and six months remain. This mid-point is the Read More …
Celebrating Social Media Day (#0776)
Today (June 30) is Mashable's third annual Social Media Day. Several cities (including Tampa) have officially joined the celebration. Individuals can participate by participating in one of over 400 meetups and/or joining the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #smday ( to view the live stream of tweets simply click here). So What? Social media is changing the way we connect with each other. It is a frequent topic here at sowhatfaith: 15% of all posts are Read More …
Goodbye Facebook – Hello Twitter (#0775)
People's social media usage habits while working are changing. According to the latest research by Palo Alto Networks, during the last six months (November 2011 to May 2012) the percentage of time workers spent on social networking sites shifted: Facebook: down 17% (from 54% to 37%) Twitter: up 10% (from 11% to 21%) Tumblr: up 9% (from 1% to 10%) So What? In only six months, the percentage of time people spent using Twitter at work doubled and the percentage of time they spent Read More …
Review of Mainline Christianity (#0774)
Meet the Author Jason S. Lantzer is an adjunct professor of history at Indiana University, Purdue University and Butler University. His BA (History & Political Science), MA (History) and Ph.D. (History) were all earned from Indiana University. Lantzer is the author of two books: Prohibition Is Here to Stay: The Reverend Edward S. Shumaker and the Dry Crusade in America (2009) and Mainline Christianity: The Past and Future of America's Majority Read More …
What’s Killing Us? (#0773)
This past weekend I encountered a blog post that shared the leading causes of death in 1900 and in 2010 according to a recent piece in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 1900, five causes of death claimed at least 100 people per every 100,000: pneumonia or influenza: 202.2 tuberculosis: 194.4 gastrointestinal infections: 142.7 heart disease: 137.4 cerebrovascular disease: 106.9 By 2010 only two causes of death claimed at least 100 people per every 100,000: heart Read More …
Facebook Changed Your E-mail Address (#0772)
I was not as engaged in social media yesterday as I am most days, but noted one recurring theme: Facebook changed everyone's e-mail address. If you don't already know, be advised that your new e-mail address appearing on your timeline is an @facebook.com account. If you would like to restore your prior account simply Go to your profile page Click on About Click on Edit in Contact Info Click on the menu beside each e-mail address listed and choose your desired setting So What? I Read More …
Review of A Faith of Our Own (#0771)
Meet the Author Jonathan Merritt launched his career while still in seminary when he organized a group of leaders concerned with creation care, and founded the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative. He earned a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from Emory University. Merritt writes and speaks about a wide range of issues related to faith and culture. He has published over 300 articles and Read More …
From .org to .church? (#0770)
The continued growth of the internet means that if nothing changed we would run out of unique web addresses. Thankfully, those responsible for ensuring we can all continue to create new sites have solved this problem with something called IPv6. Earlier this month the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers or ICAN started accepting applications from companies seeking new domain suffixes that included .apple, .google, and .church. So What? Most congregations now have Read More …
Reorganizing Denominations (#0769)
In the "Under Discussion" column in the June edition of Christianity Today, six evangelical leaders responded to the question "Should denominations be organized geographically?" Their responses follow: Yes: Carl Trueman and Greg Peters Between Yes and No: Bob Thompson and R. Albert Mohler Jr. No: Will Willimon and Paul Detterman (p.12). So What? I often write about the future of denominations on this blog. The only thing about which I am certain is that the future will look Read More …
Is Technology Good for Religion? (#0768)
In a recent Washington Post article Lisa Miller argues that technology is good for religion. Building her argument primarily on the views of adherents rather than experts, she focuses on the value of apps to support rather than replace religious practices. In short, she believes: Technology can greatly enhance religious practice. Groups that restrict and fear it participate in their own demise. So What? Religion involves connection with the divine and with other people following Read More …