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 back to June 2008 |
Faithbook: new Facebook page to help religions get along
03/06/2008 18:00:00
| 'Pages' on the Facebook social networking website are similar to Facebook groups but designed for businesses, brands, musicians and public figures rather than members of the public. Pages have 'fans' rather than 'members' and there are a few other not terribly interesting differences.
A new page, entitled 'Faithbook' has been set up for fans of interfaith dialogue. It is apparently "the only faith group on Facebook to invite all faiths to participate". The page, set up by the Movement for Reform Judaism, includes contributions from representatives of nine different faiths on subjects such as 'Countering extremism through the use of new media' and 'Spreading the message of the faith through new technology'. Canon Michael Ipgrave, Archdeacon of Southwark represents Christianity in these discussions. |  |
| Riazatt Butt first mentioned Faithbook this morning in the Guardian - there have since been reports in the Times, Telegraph, ITN and on blog posts by Ruth Gledhill and George Pitcher (whose blog is also named 'Faithbook' - see below). Simon Barrow of Ekklesia managed to accidentally feature in Joanna Sugden's Times report by posting 'is this it then?' on the page, an understandable sentiment given that at the time only one other person had posted on 'the wall'. He comments here. |
| Like Simon I wasn't too impressed when I first had a look this morning. But having read a bit more I can see how this could be a useful endeavour. Its success will depend on the way it is maintained and moderated. It is very easy to set up new internet ventures, but far more difficult to sustain them successfully in the long run. |
| Besides this new Faithbook page and George Pitcher's Faithbook blog, the name is also used by the Washington Post Faithbook student blog, the Faithbook social networking site by Faithaction and another Faithbook social networking site by a 'Fellowship of World Christians, Working Together in Union with Christ'. Whether any of these entities will demand exclusive use of the name or whether they will all coexist in a state of peaceful dialogue and harmony remains to be seen. |
Simon Barrow | 04/06/2008 08:56:15