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Online mass...

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  • 23-04-2008 3:38pm
    #1
    suziques
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭


    i dont know if this topic has come up before, so apologies if it has, but im interested to know what people think about online churchs, as in; instead of going to mass on sunday afternoon you instead switch on your computer, pick your avatar, sit in a virtual 3D church and listen/read an online sermon..said by a real priest/preacher..live

    can it substitute going to a real church? Would God mind!?


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    #2
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    suziques wrote: »
    can it substitute going to a real church? Would God mind!?
    You'll have to ask your deity if it's ok, but the good boys at:

    http://churchoffools.com/

    seem to think there's no problem. BTW, COF is an offshoot of http://www.shipoffools.com/ which is a fun read, even for the frightfully irreligious.


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    #3
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    suziques wrote: »
    i dont know if this topic has come up before, so apologies if it has, but im interested to know what people think about online churchs, as in; instead of going to mass on sunday afternoon you instead switch on your computer, pick your avatar, sit in a virtual 3D church and listen/read an online sermon..said by a real priest/preacher..live

    can it substitute going to a real church? Would God mind!?

    I could understand someone who is physically infirm and unable to attend church getting comfort from such a thing, but it's no substitute. It's like listening to a U2 song as a ringtone on your phone as opposed to attending a real gig.

    There are people who just watch TV preachers instead of going to church. My own church posts the sermons each Sunday as podcasts on the website, and judging by the number of downloads or hits it seems popular.

    But in the end church is not just about you and God. An essential part of Church is meeting other people. You don't just go to Church to get your own needs met. You go to encourage others, to learn how to interact, even how to become better people by handling disagreements in a godly way. Virtual Church can never, in my opinion, come close to providing a substitute for that.


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    #4
    humanji
    Registered Users Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    In fairness, they've been broadcasting mass on sunday mornings on rte 1 since before I was born. It's just the same, but moved to a new media.


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    #5
    Dog Fan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭Dog Fan


    PDN wrote: »
    But in the end church is not just about you and God. An essential part of Church is meeting other people. You don't just go to Church to get your own needs met. You go to encourage others, to learn how to interact, even how to become better people by handling disagreements in a godly way. Virtual Church can never, in my opinion, come close to providing a substitute for that.

    Agreed. In baptism we use the words "the Christian community welcomes you with great joy". As with the TV mass, it can have its place for those who are unable to attend, but for me, being there, being part of the community is important.


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    #6
    kelly1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,026 ✭✭✭kelly1


    suziques wrote: »
    i dont know if this topic has come up before, so apologies if it has, but im interested to know what people think about online churchs, as in; instead of going to mass on sunday afternoon you instead switch on your computer, pick your avatar, sit in a virtual 3D church and listen/read an online sermon..said by a real priest/preacher..live

    can it substitute going to a real church? Would God mind!?
    Hello Suziques, welcome to the forum! :)

    Viewing Mass on television or similar doesn't fulfill a Catholic's Sunday obligation. Obviously it's not possible to receive Holy Communion remotely.

    The Lord doesn't make His Body and Blood present for us to watch it from afar!

    God bless,
    Noel.


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