Pope gives Facebook, Twitter his blessing

And on the seventh day, God tweeted: @God: Just created everything. Gonna grab a sandwich and wait for some followers.

Pope Benedict XVI recently announced his approval of social media as a way to keep people connected. If you missed it, you might be able to catch a clip of it on His Socialness’ YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/vatican.

The approval extends to the clergy as well. Some bishops and priests already have Facebook or MySpace accounts, and even Evangelical-style sermons are possible through video and discussion boards on some social sites. Whether more traditional (read: older) members of the cloth will utilize the technology remains a mystery.

Though the Church has not said so, its endorsement of social media could be a way to reconnect with the lapsed and attract new followers amid declining church attendance numbers. Younger attendees typically get restless in church, but they might be more engaged if they’re keeping up via Twitter. Spreading the word of God will be as simple as a “re-tweet.”

The Eye for one thinks social media’s evolution into use by religious organizations is completely natural – really.

• Messages will continue to come down from above.
• Shorter lag time between confessions if you can tweet your sins.
• Harp-strum ringtones for all non-secular messages.
• Flocks – of birds – already tweet.
• Digital rosary. Yes, “there is an app for that” ($2.99).

Incidentally, the menorah app is $5, but the Buddha app is free.

@God: Dang, OU just sent my brackets to Hell.

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