Spring Break
YouTube Needs No Answer From God
Alex Sanders
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Commentary
There are always two sides to every story no matter what the subject. However, it seems that two sides cannot oppose each other unless they are on basically the same level. One would not be able to make a fair comparison between intelligent design and interior design, although they both deal with design. Nevertheless, GodTube.com, a fairly popular new Web site, claims to be the "Christian answer" to YouTube.com.
According to ABC News, Chris Wyatt, a student at Dallas Theological Seminary and creator of the Web site, "launched GodTube earlier this year after reading a study that forecast a 50 percent decline in the number of U.S. churchgoers by 2050." Wyatt is using the internet to not only promote the Christian faith more widely, but also to target younger audiences.
I have no problem with the idea of a Christian equivalent to YouTube, but it seems as though YouTube never needed an "answer." It is not a cult Web site that corrupts America's youth, but a place to post arbitrary excursions and karaoke sessions with friends. Granted, YouTube does contain inappropriate video clips, but the managers of the site do not promote the posting of them and if they discover an unsuitable clip it will be removed. It is understandable that some people do not want to be exposed to even the possibility of coming across inappropriate clips. Hence, they should rightly have an outlet, such as GodTube, where they can be exposed to their interests and beliefs. Yet while it is perfectly fine, and even beneficial, to have a website containing Christian rock and bible sermons, I do not agree with many of the video clips posted on GodTube.
Although I'm not very religious myself, I feel that everyone should be entitled to their own opinions, lifestyles and religion. But GodTube has simply pushed its limits. It is far too radical to be an answer to YouTube and YouTube seems far too innocent to merit an answer as severe as GodTube.
While promoting a religion's benefits and advocating joining a religious group poses no harm, scaring people into believing something is not only unjust but sick and twisted. Many of the clips on GodTube depict the death and destruction that supposedly come with Armageddon. However, these clips are not hypothetical stories. There are horrifying pictures of the Sept. 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina and suicide bombings in Iraq, among numerous other disturbing images. The clips did not make me want to convert to Christianity - they made me wonder how someone can have the heart to induce so much fear and sadness.
According to ABC News, Chris Wyatt, a student at Dallas Theological Seminary and creator of the Web site, "launched GodTube earlier this year after reading a study that forecast a 50 percent decline in the number of U.S. churchgoers by 2050." Wyatt is using the internet to not only promote the Christian faith more widely, but also to target younger audiences.
I have no problem with the idea of a Christian equivalent to YouTube, but it seems as though YouTube never needed an "answer." It is not a cult Web site that corrupts America's youth, but a place to post arbitrary excursions and karaoke sessions with friends. Granted, YouTube does contain inappropriate video clips, but the managers of the site do not promote the posting of them and if they discover an unsuitable clip it will be removed. It is understandable that some people do not want to be exposed to even the possibility of coming across inappropriate clips. Hence, they should rightly have an outlet, such as GodTube, where they can be exposed to their interests and beliefs. Yet while it is perfectly fine, and even beneficial, to have a website containing Christian rock and bible sermons, I do not agree with many of the video clips posted on GodTube.
Although I'm not very religious myself, I feel that everyone should be entitled to their own opinions, lifestyles and religion. But GodTube has simply pushed its limits. It is far too radical to be an answer to YouTube and YouTube seems far too innocent to merit an answer as severe as GodTube.
While promoting a religion's benefits and advocating joining a religious group poses no harm, scaring people into believing something is not only unjust but sick and twisted. Many of the clips on GodTube depict the death and destruction that supposedly come with Armageddon. However, these clips are not hypothetical stories. There are horrifying pictures of the Sept. 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina and suicide bombings in Iraq, among numerous other disturbing images. The clips did not make me want to convert to Christianity - they made me wonder how someone can have the heart to induce so much fear and sadness.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Matt
posted 10/24/07 @ 9:51 AM EST
Aw man, is it time to repent again?
Seems "Do unto others as you would have done unto you" gets overlooked everytime ;)
jeff
posted 10/24/07 @ 12:01 PM EST
I think you forget to realize that scaring people has historically been a great way to get people into a religion...it seems like the creator of GodTube is working off that. (Continued…)
Post a Comment