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‘Deliver Us From Evil Blogging’
September 29, 2008 11:02 AM
By Emily Wither, ABC News London
British church leaders are becoming so concerned about the temptations of the blogosphere that they have drawn up a list of “Ten Blogging Commandments.”
Based on the original 10 Commandments, the new cyberspace rules were delivered in a very different setting. Instead of by Moses on the top of Mount Sinai, the list was drawn up by the Evangelical Alliance during a Godsblog conference in London. The Evangelical Alliance was formed in 1846 and represents thousands of different churches across Britain.
Christian bloggers are being asked to sign up to revamped rules – which are etched in “virtual stone.” The rules include remembering to take a day off from their blog on the Sabbath, not murdering another’s reputation online and not stealing another person’s content.
Dr. Krish Kandiah, the executive director of Churches in Mission, told ABC News that he felt the new rules would enable people to link the Ten Commandments with the art of blogging. “In the ever-changing information age, what we need is wisdom for life, and God communicates wisdom to our culture through the Bible on every issue from social justice to social networking.”
Christian blogs have been known to encourage passionate, extreme and sometimes angry comment and debate, and unlike most other forms of media, they are unregulated. Bloggers are reminded in the new Ten Commandments not to use the anonymity of a screen name to commit a sin, to honor your fellow bloggers and not to put your blog before your integrity.
Other commandments include not making an idol of your blog, not permitting or committing adultery in your mind and being content with your own content.
The Rev. Mark Meynell, the senior associate minister of All Souls Church, Langham Place, led the talks in London, “The Internet is merely the latest step in the evolution of human communication -- and so like any other new medium, it presents us with huge opportunities as well as challenges.”
The Blogging Ten Commandments, according to the Evangelical Alliance:
- You shall not put your blog before your integrity.
- You shall not make an idol of your blog.
- You shall not misuse your screen name by using your anonymity to sin.
- Remember the Sabbath day by taking one day off a week from your blog.
- Honour your fellow-bloggers above yourselves and do not give undue significance to their mistakes.
- You shall not murder someone else’s honour, reputation or feelings.
- You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind.
- You shall not steal another person’s content.
- You shall not give false testimony against your fellow-blogger.
- You shall not covet your neighbour's blog ranking. Be content with your own content.
September 29, 2008 in Emily Wither | Permalink | User Comments (26)
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Why do you all judge like your God? First of all there is no greater sin, except for sin against the spirit. Just know that there is a God, religion has nothing to do with it. In the end religion or rules wont be what gets you saved. Stop judging and learn to Love God.
Posted by: Vill | Sep 29, 2008 10:15:19 PM
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