Taking Issue With Social Media

From "3 Under 40", Unity Magazine, March/April 2012:
Reverend H. calls himself "a fan of all things social media." He tweets, blogs and uses Facebook and Google+. He's always reading about the latest developments in social media and has been accused of being too attached to his smartphone. He believes it's important for all Unity ministers to get engaged in social media.
"At this point social media is no longer the wave of the future. It's present reality. Social media is about connection, communication, collaboration and community.
Sound familiar? Like maybe church? It's digital word-of-mouth and beyond, And To Ignore It Is To Say You Don't Want To Be Part Of What's Happening Now. (caps mine) It's key to spreading the word about Unity as individuals digitally expand their circle and their reach."  He notes that there are great smartphone applications for churches.

Letter to the Editor, Unity Magazine, May/June 2012:
Taking Issue With Social Media
In your profiles of up-and-coming ministers (March/April, "3 Under 40"), there is a not-very-subtle message of exclusion in Reverend H's statement that "to ignore [social media] is to say you don't want to be part of what's happening now."
My whole and present, spiritual self has nothing to do with social media or artificial intelligence, one way or the other.
Reverend H. confuses the latest technical means of transmitting information with what is eternal, essential, and inherent to what and who we are. He confuses the daily "doings", "the ten thousand things", with the stillness and serenity only to be found in human "being".
And his is a prevailing and confused preference for "virtual" (that is, "almost", synthetic) reality, over a more wholesome and authentic reality, which includes understanding, humility and compassion.
                                                                        John H.