Self Worship

I wanted to touch on the whole ‘online’ aspect of religion as the question “how are religions affected by going online” brought back memories an issue which I encountered several years ago in a similar essay. I think there are both positives and negatives as to how religions branching into the online realm can ultimately impact upon the individual. I remember reading about how certain religions (mainly Christian) now have online streaming and access to all church services and prayers, allowing someone (presumably unable to attend) to sit at home or wherever remotely and effectively participate in the congregation. Now don’t get me wrong this is a great alternative when people are otherwise unable to attend, however I think as long as it’s not utilized as a permanent alternative to attendance then there should be no issues in the short term. Once a transition is made where online religion becomes the primary form of worship, then issues can be raised with respect to sense of place and spiritual connection. It is arguable that someone sitting within a room staring at a screen will experience the same level of connection and detachment that someone within a holy place amongst a like minded community will. The sense of place and belonging becomes removed and mechanical, and in turn the sense of religiosity becomes dulled. But in saying that, the sense of setting and place are removed in online religiosity, but when one considers ancient spiritualist practices which occurred primarily in the home around small alters or rooms dedicated to worship, could this not extend to online religiosity? I think that if one was to amalgamate the idea of home-based worship and online worship into one, where the “computer room” or study was converted to a shrine/temple/church with all the trimmings and sensory inputs afforded to a normal place of worship, this may possible become a viable form of online long-term worship. There is absence of sense of community, so it would be interesting to see the effects of long-term worship on an individual level, as opposed to that of the collective.