Pope Declares Facebook Obsession a Sin
By breepeace
@breepeace (3014)
Canada
January 23, 2009 11:05am CST
It was a busy morning in the Vatican City: The Vatican launched a YouTube page and the Pope warned the public Catholics that “obsessive” Facebook usage can be unhealthy. (What other kind of Facebook usage is there?)
The Vatican’s YouTube page opens with a video montage that doesn’t appear likely to go viral anytime soon. There are a couple of awesome shots of the Popemobile, but apart from that it’s just a lot of swelling music and footage of past Popes pressing the flesh. The site functions in English, Spanish, Italian, and German, so Catholics not steeped in a European language are out of luck.
Pope Benedict XVI says that social networking sites can “foster friendships and understanding, but warns they also can isolate people and marginalize others.” Sort of like all religions under the sun. No Facebook profile for the Pope yet, though. You’ll just have to join his fan page.
What do you think.. can Facebook and other social networking sites isolate and marginalize people?
4 responses
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I think obsession with anything can become sinful. We're not supposed to be obsessed with anything, except, according to Micah 6:8, when we're supposed to be obsessed with knowing mercy, doing justice, and walking humbly with God. As far as obsessions go, that's about as far as people of faith are supposed to go. Not a bad triumvirate in my opinion. But I still like Facebook, whatever the Pope says.
@soulist (2985)
• United States
26 Jan 09
I cannot imagine facebook being a sin. I mean yea we can meet new people and stay in touch with old ones. I think sometimes people including the Pope can take things a little too far when it comes to things like this. I don't think facebook or myspace and other social networking places can isolate and marginalizing people.
@Kentbush18 (202)
• China
25 Jan 09
The claim of the Pope may be true. There are indeed some repercussions brought about by the social networking services, which are not yet clear to the public. I tend to consider the social networking services a means to connect people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. So I would not agree that the sites isolate and marginalise people but bring them together and subject them to international surveillance and discipline.
@dolphin2406 (1224)
• Poland
25 Jan 09
It may happen to people who are shy and introvert to interact with people in the real world, so they stay home and chat virtually with others. I think this will increase more the problem of that person as now he has another way to interact than face to face and it can become obsessive with some people. I only created the account to connect with old friends whom I dont see for a long time otherwise I prefer to talk to the in person
