Is mass media the new religion of the 21st Century?

Mass media: The internet, television, ads the list goes on. Every one of these mediums reach out to billions of people world wide.





Religion?:


A form of authority that people respect.





The place where many of the symbols, rituals and myths in our lives are formed.





Somewhere we can see our social ‘reality’ reflected and reaffirmed.





I would really like some opinions on this. Are we really worshipping our tv or is this obessesion justified as a religion?

Is mass media the new religion of the 21st Century?
i pray to my tv every morning....its usually a rewarding god
Reply:"Social reality" and religion are two different things. The first is physical, the second spiritual (at least, its supposed to be.)


Obsession by our society with new electronics is indeed a problem, but I believe does not have the fervor religions often display, thus cannot be justified as one. Good question.
Reply:Where we are headed in this new age is so far removed from religion, or anything you can read in history. This is the information age, there's science, technology, internet, and information is power. Religion requires unquestioning belief, conformity and obedience, among other things.


As a dominant influence in our lives, absolutely; but TV and internet etc. is more a vehicle for a variety of information, than a force in its own right.

veneers