Technology & Spiritual Practice Resources

  (Online, Video, and Books)

General Resources/Innovation Networks/Conferences:  

• Alltop ChurchTech Listing (Christian)
• Churchcrunch (Christian)
• Darim Online (Jewish)
• Echo Church & Media Conference (Christian)
• Internet Evangelism Day (Christian)
• Leadership Network (Christian)
• Ministry Marketing Coach (Christian)
• Mobile Phones for Evangelism (Christian)
• Mormon.org and Greg West blog (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) 
• Patheos (interfaith)
• Progressive Muslim Meetup Groups
• Religion & New Media Wiki (interfaith)
• Synagogue 3000 (Jewish)
• The Networked Congregation (Christian)
• The Networked Congregation Guide (non denominational)
• United Muslim (Muslim) 

Sampling of Online Tools:

• Community Building Tools: OnTheCity
• Cyber Tours: Aish.com Virtual Jerusalem
• Discussion Forums: Talk Islam Ecunet
• Distance learning courses: Sewanee.edu, Brigham Young University Courses
• Facebook Apps: Northland Community App
• Live Streaming: US Church Stream (consultancy), Live Streaming on iPhone
• Mobile Applications: Logos Bible Study (iPhone), Christian Living Apps (iPhone), Halal Restaurant locator (iPhone), YouVersion (iPhone) Olive Tree (Palm), iAarti (iPhone), Catholic Confessional (iPhone), Sabbath Manifesto (iPhone), Ultimate Buddhist Library (iPhone), Live Medinah (Android)
• Mobile Fundraising/Tithing: United Church of Christ Mobile Fundraising program
• Online based churches/missions: Life Church TV , Online Mission Trip; Anglican Chat (online chatroom)
• Online Magazines: Busted Halo
• Online Prayers & /Confessionals: Gurbani World, Dear God, MySecret, Christian Prayer Center, Western Wall notes delivery
• Online Safety: Safefamiliesm; xxxchurch; covenanteyes
• Podcast Talks/Sermons/Bible: God's iPod, Rabbi Jim, OnePlace; Bible.is, Godcast1000
• Realtime Chat: Mecca.com, LDS Customer Service Chatroom
• Software: Christianfreeware
• Social Networks: beliefnet.org, Gaia Community, Soulpancake(for youth), Mychurch;  Xianz, MyCatholicVoice, Godtube, Digital Catechesis Mecca.com tangle

• Twitter & Texting: PrayerOnTwitter,Gospelr.com, Twitter for Churches, Tweet Your Prayers, Text to Prayer, Tiny Buddha

• Video: GodTube, ShoutChurch, YouTube, Just life TV, Virtual Rabbi
• Virtual Worlds: religion in Second Life (NBC News), Guided tour of spirituality in second life, Virtual Hajj, LDS Plaza
• Website Building: Internet Evangelism Guide & Self Assessment Tool
• Widgets: Charter for Compassion, thejesustv
• Xbox: Bible Navigator

Books*:

• Exploring Religious Communities Online: We are One in the Network, Hiedi Campbell
• Groundswell, Charlene Li
• Halos & Avatars: Playing Video Games with God, Craig Detweiler
• Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations, Clay Shirkey
• iMuslim: Rewiring the Muslim World, Gary Bunt
• Millenium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church, M. Rex Miller
• The Networked Nonprofit, Beth Kanter & Allison Fine
• Speed: Learning to Survive in a more-faster-now world, Vince Posente
• The Medium and the Light: Reflections on Religion, Marshall McLuhan
• Working Across Generations, Frances Kunreuther

Reports:

• New Research Describes Use of Technology in Churches, The Barna Group
• The Networked Congregation: Embracing the Experience of Experimentation, Andrea Useem 
• Pew Religious Landscape Survey, the Pew Forum on Religious & Public Life

Understanding & Using Social Media:

• "Us Now": Brialliant 1 hour documentary on the power of technology-driven collaboration to change government and other institutions
• "Social Media in Plain English": Simple explanation of Web 2.0 in minutes
• "Social Media Revolution": 4 minutes of amazing statistics disproving the notion that social media is a fad
• "Did You Know 3.0": 5 minute overview of the rapid pace of technology developments through statistics
• Social Media Decision Guide: Idealware's step-by-step approach to determine which tools are right for your nonprofit
• We Are Media toolkit: Comprehensive resources for understanding and making use of social media practices & tools

Website & Communications Consultants:

• Mustard Seed Media
• H.O.W. Marketing Service
• Darim Online

Testing Your Digital Literacy:

What kind of a technology user are you - beginning, intermediate, or advanced? Take the Pew Test to find out. And take the test here to determine if you are truly a "Social Citizen" in the area of technology.

 *A more extensive listing of Books & Reports can be found on this Amazon listing and on pages 48-55 in The Networked Congregation