The decentralization of spiritual authority has created a mob mentality within western Christianity. As discussed earlier, “the democratisation of information and the increase in user-generated content also make it easier for misinformation and negative content to proliferate online,” but this isn’t the only problem. The Internet reinforces “pack identities and mob rule” (Kessler 29). When the majority group begins to believe and share inaccurate ideas about God and scripture, it becomes almost impossible to avoid their influence. When these ideas become dominant, they tend to create cookie-cutter Christians where people are less likely to push and challenge ideas, and instead simply accept them as fact. Christianity has existed and progressed for centuries because of people who carried out healthy debates on matters of faith. In addition, people tend to have an intimate and trusting relationship with the Internet and social media platforms. In an interview with PBS, Daniel Levitin discusses belief perseverance. “Having learned something, we tend to cling to that belief, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” When enough people believe an idea and continue to push it onto others, it leaves a lasting imprint and makes it difficult to change that belief.
Sources:
Kessler, Edward. "Social Media and the Movement of Ideas." European Judaism: A Journal for the New Europe46.1 (2013): 26-35. Web. 5 Feb. 2017.
"Why we believe what we read on the internet." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017.
Sources:
Kessler, Edward. "Social Media and the Movement of Ideas." European Judaism: A Journal for the New Europe46.1 (2013): 26-35. Web. 5 Feb. 2017.
"Why we believe what we read on the internet." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017.