Is Your Bible’s Future in the Cloud?
Reflecting on Sony’s recent announcement of e-readers to compete with the Kindle, Mart De Haan wonders whether or not moving our Bibles to digital devices is a good idea:
But here’s what I’m really interested in. As I continue to find Bible software enormously helpful in doing research, and even though online searches provide far more information that I could get from most of my paper books, I sometimes wonder whether I’ve lost some of the “personal relationship†with my Bible.
Obviously, we here at Gospel.com believe that the Bible and Biblical resources can and should have a place in the digital world. But should digital resources replace print versions? I’m not so sure myself. There’s something about holding a weighty mass of paper in my hands that connects to me spiritually.
What do you think? Do you think that Bibles inherently need to be physical? Or do you welcome the availability of God’s word on your iPhone, Kindle, laptop, etc.? How does having a digital Bible change your Bible Study habits?
I already posted on Mart’s blog, but I like both. In the morning I like to go online and read the bible, and other times I like to have the leather bound ones. Both are good. Both are the Word of God.
Call me the conspiracy theorist, but in the light of what has happened recently with the Kindle’s copy of George Orwell’s ’1984′ being removed from people’s e-book readers without them knowing, I think that this new philosophy of publishers selling licenses to read books and not actual books allows for censorship or removal of material offensive to society.
If electronic books and access to electronic material is already being blocked by companies because of a secually explicit sentence here and a violent expression there, and that in secular books, how much longer do we have before all our e-books and iPhone Bible applications either get ‘altered’ or removed because of all the stuff that’s in there?
I’m big into electronic access to the Bible and I’ve often had to explain to the older people in my church that this 35 year old isn’t playing games during the service but is following the text, checking the Greek/Hebrew and comparing the sermon with a commentary! But the paper copy is more permanent and if the digital equivalent of a Bible Burning would be to refuse me access to the resources, I’ll keep my paper versions at hand, just in case.
Just a few thoughts
Richard, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Digitized literature is a burgeoning field and Amazon definitely bobbled the 1984 thing. They are trying to make ammends though, and you better believe they’ll get a solid policy in place for any future situations.
Still, not a settling story.
(for those that are in the dark, here’s an overview: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2351087,00.asp )
Personally, I’m extremely optimistic about the future of digital distribution though. In my day job, other than working with Gospel.com I work with BibleGateway.com. We’re reaching millions of people every month throughout the world with God’s word in myriad languages. When I think of that and its potential, I get excited.
I guess I’m of the belief that there will always be ways around any technological barrier that a company can throw at their users.
Anyway…huge discussion, and I probably rambled more than I mean to. It’s good to talk about this stuff though before we’re at a point where it’s all already decided for us.
I thank you for raising the question as I have often pondered on this very issue. I appreciated the view that both are good and necessary. Access to so much information means I have a much broader picture and therefore a more balanced view of the text I use in my sermons. However I do find that I am beginning to find that I no longer have the patience to look (and in so doing discovering for myself) for answers in my bilbe. I know that a word search will get me there quickly and save time. But is that good? Not so sure really …. discovering was just so much more gratifying in that I was more aware of the Holy Spirits part in the adventure.
Get the word out there. If its the “living word” it will do its thing.
I travel for my work. Even if I did not travel, though, i think i would read the Word more online than in paper form. Now, i know this method is not for everyone, but I am not sure that God’s Word is governed by the media in which it is delivered. I believe scripture teaches us to “store up God’s Word in our hearts”… not in paper or electronic form. Paper or electronic are man’s ways of keeping track of God’s Word. I know there are some conspiracy theorists out there that think the Internet is just a way to govern what we read, but the Internet can be even more. I believe our spirits will bear witness to those things that are not properly presented, and we will be prompted to research those messages that may not appear to be from God. For me… I like the Internet because its the way i live and work. I still have a paper bible, several actually, and probably always will. seems to be a tangible representation of God’s Word. But, Internet or paper, I still choose to store it up in my heart. Have a blessed day.
dave
I echo the sentiment and endorse the need for both.
Electronic media, digital distribution and internet access all have significant benefits in terms of access to information and resources. Like everyone else, I would be lost without them.
However, my personal prayer time is enriched by my personal copy of the Bible where I have scribbled dates and times when God used words and passages to communicate His presence, His plans and His assurances.
The Word of God has adapted to and adopted several technological innovations though history (from the spoken word to the written word, onto various forms of parchment and paper, the innovations of the printing press and xerography and other events more numerous than space permits).
As the “living word” (cf Mark) it will continue to impact and transform lives irrespective of the medium or the technology!