What is Blog-Spirituality?

Why do people read blogs more in 'working hours' and less at other times? What does this say about the implicit spirituality of blogs? Should blogs be attentive to the working lives of its readers? If more blog readers are women (which may not be true) is blogging an art that has a more female spirituality? What is blog spirituality? All these questions were raised yesterday by The Vernacular Vicar in his post Blogging, Women and Spirituality. (Whoops: just noticed his post was a year ago! Oh well, better late than never.) Rather than a brief comment on his blog post, I plan a fuller response in a series of posts. This one has some first thoughts on his last question, what is blog spirituality?

What is Blog Spirituality?

The question needs at least a PhD dissertation to do it justice, so it may be foolish to attempt an answer in a short post, even limiting it to a Christian spirituality of blog-writing by Christians. Firstly - some definitions:

What is a blog?

If you are reading this, can I assume you know what a 'blog' is? In case you don't, I'll use Blogger's definition that it is "a web site where you write stuff on an ongoing basis" and can be a personal diary, daily pulpit, collaborative space, political soapbox, breaking news outlet, collection of links, private thoughts, your memos to the world, or whatever you want it to be. Mine is a bit of all those.


What is Christian Spirituality?
One useful definition is: the quest for a fulfilled and authentic life, that involves

• taking the beliefs and values of Christianity
• and weaving them into the fabric of our lives
• so that they "animate", provide the "spirit" and "breath" and "power" of our lives. 

You can find a fuller discussion of what this means in this excellent article based on the book Christian Spirituality, an Introduction, Alister E. McGrath, Blackwell 1999, ISBN 0631212817.


My 1st thoughts on a 'Spirituality of Christian Blogging'

All these bullet points need unpacking!

• Being faithful. "...whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus..." (Colossians 3: 17)

• Being kind but not soppy. "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone." (Colossians 4: 6)

• Being a servant. Christian blogging is a form of ministry i.e. service and gift to others in the name of Christ

• Being prayerful - sustaining a relationship with God.

• Being a disciple. Blogging can be a means of spiritual growth, a spiritual discipline, a way to learn and be transformed.

• Being creative

• Being vulnerable

• Being open to change through engagement with God, other bloggers and experience. 

• Being a witness, an evangelist, a story teller, a signpost to the 'greatest story ever told'.

• Being friendly, creating community.

Well, there's the headings for starters. I'd love to know your thoughts on this topic or links to other posts.

Photo (Creative Commons):Laptop auf dem Schoß (Foto: Stephan Röhl)