Religion - a belief in a higher power, a force outside of oneself. The G*d word. Some say we have even turned technology into a religion. That we worship our computers, gadgets and gizmos. Religion and technology, are they unlikely partners? Not in the 21st century!

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Biography of Leona Seufert

From Pulpit to Pew -

Technology's impact on Houses of Worship

House of worship: hushed interior dimly lit, symbols of the particular faith adorning the walls, organ music, a choir singing or voices chanting in prayer. Today's houses of worship are as far removed from that image as the Edsel car is from an Explorer SUV! At the heart of these changes is the use of technology amplifying the spoken and sung word, special lighting effects enhancing the worship environment, electronic music replacing the organ, multimedia shows projecting song lyrics or special presentations. Video feeds the service to remote location or tapes it for later viewing, and digital feeds connect with the Internet.

The desire to communicate age old messages in more culturally relevant ways is at the heart of this adaptation of technology. Today's congregation is used to receiving its messages through video presentations, Power Point slides and other theatrics and is conditioned by today's mass media to expect short sound bites and exciting visuals. Thus in order to sustain its membership and attract new people to worship services, changes to had to occur only not the format of the service but the physical delivery as well.

Amplifying the Word

Sound systems were the first technological advancement implemented in houses of worship. Today's audience is conditioned to amplified sound. Microphones in the pulpit and choir made it easier for everyone to hear. The advent of cordless microphones allowed for walking among the congregation to deliver the sermon in a more powerful and connected manner.

Not without it's problems, sound technology has created headaches for those congregations who have old buildings, limited budgets, or a limited knowledge of the technology. Sound systems can create "dead spots" in buildings where the audio then becomes garbled. Also, some older individuals find the loudness undesirable. Many times congregations spend great sums of money just to get it right after the first attempt fails.

Hallelujahs

Technology has also revolutionized worship music. The somber sounds of the ancient pipe organ or the mellow tones of the folk guitar have been replace by electronics. Electronic organs are now the mainstay of newly built facilities or replacements for failed ancient organs. Electronic guitars and a whole array of rock band type instruments jazz up a modern day service. Instrumentation affects the creation of songs, with today's music being more like contemporary top 10 hits than the reverent worship music of old.

Projecting the message

When brighter, cheaper video projectors hit the market, budget challenged congregations were able to incorporate multimedia into the worship experience. Song lyrics, sermon highlights or announcements could be projected onto screens near the pulpit. This technology enhancement makes it easier for those with poor eyesight or hearing disabilities to participate more fully in the worship service.

However, the use of  presentation technology such as Power Point slides does not always result in better sermons. Poorly developed presentations, which have been the bane of the corporate world for many years, can also bore a religious audience.

The video perspective

Although more the exception than the rule, some houses of worship have embraced the next frontier: video. Going beyond static projected graphics, they have used camcorders, video editing software, and animation to enhance presentations. Their goal is to use technology to communicate in culturally relevant and engaging ways to their congregation who is now exposed to high end media at home and at work. Some have even launched production studios for their house of worship.

Digital worship

The technology of the Internet has become an effective arm of modern day ministries. The vast majority have gone no further than creating a Web presence with a site that is a replication of printed weekly bulletins. However, growing numbers of congregations have discovered the power of the Web's extended reach. Some use live webcasts to transmit services to house bound members. Others use their websites as an adjunct media opportunity for fundraising endeavors or missionary work.

House of worship or theatre?

Technology is not only being used to enhance weekly religious services but also as an aid in staging elaborate pageants. Entertainment Design magazine did a special report on Houses of Worship in its April 2002 issue. It related that "...some of America's most ambitious theatrical and concert events are taking place in church facilities these days, and a growing number of churches are building venues explicitly with entertainment in mind." Jerrry Meier, national sales manager at Digital Projection, Inc. commented that "Once church facilities go above 2,500 seats, they really become performing arts centers."

Small sized houses of worship might stick to the simple enhancements of upgraded sound systems, electronic music and enhanced lighting. The grand statements are being made by such entities as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who built a conference/worship center with seating capacity for 21,000. They incorporated a stage that dwarfs any Broadway theatre or even Radio City Music Hall in size and use of technology. On a smaller scale, the Southeast Christian Center has a space that seats 9,000 and produces an Easter Pageant on its stage that encompasses live animals, flying angels, and a realistic scene of Judas hanging himself. Cindy Coffee, communications director for the church, said in the aforementioned article that "Staging dramatic or entertainment events is part of the new dynamic in churches - reflecting a mission to evangelize the lost and edify the saved."

Sacrilege or progress?  

Although much of this technology has been present in houses of worship for the last decade, the use of that technology still remains a source of debate for traditionalists. Mega-churches and video ministries have fueled accusations that flashy technology is used more to build up membership numbers then to serve the personal worship needs of the congregation.

Tim Eason, president of ChurchMedia.net an online resource center for church media ministries, was interviewed in the April 2002 issue of Presentations magazine. He believes "...that if Jesus were alive today he'd be toting a laptop and an ultralight portable projector...to spread his message." He goes on to say "People who attend church aren't looking for gimmicks, they're looking for the truth. But today's presentation and digital technologies do offer more compelling ways of communicating the truth..."

Not every religion agrees that technology offers a more compelling way to communicate age old truths. Thus the level of technology found acceptable for inclusion in worship varies from religion to religion. However, if history is any indicator, technology has a way of slowly overcoming even the most staunch reservists. From the use of printing presses to produce sacred texts to the replacement of candles with electric lighting, technology has changed the way we worship many times over the last centuries. The important question is not whether it should be used, but does its use serve a valid purpose within a religion's spiritual framework.

      (c) 2003 Leona M Seufert

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