Here’s a NYT story: The Bible as Graphic Novel, With a Samurai Stranger Called Christ — about the Bible presented as a Japanese-style graphic novel.
It seems obvious to me that the enlistment of new media for spreading holy stories de-mythologizes the message. Yes, you get wider exposure, but it becomes progressively more shallow. Eventually, religion becomes just another product, just another fad. God as chewing gum, or sports shoes.
Once you throw religion onto the same market as other entertainments, you open it up to even greater competitive pressure. On any particular Sunday, if SuperJesus has to compete with TV, YouTube, iPod, Sprint, Wii and Digg, the market share of religion has to take a serious whack.
Interesting too to think that the Internet, with readily available sermons and religious readings, might be killing churches. Just as a lot of “bricks” businesses are being out-sold by their “clicks” competitors, the profit of physical churches has to be suffering due to all the online availability of churchy stuff. Watching churches consolidate and close in my local area, I have to believe it’s something like this.
Finally, the story of Anonymous vs. Scientology went viral and had what I believe to be a worldwide impact. I’d be surprised if 50 million people didn’t hear the story, and I think Scientology will take a substantial hit in membership and income, as more and more people find out just how nutty they are.
I see this as the seed of a greater recognition that ALL religion suffers from irrational and cultish elements. First L. Ron Hubbard, tomorrow Pope Palpatine!