The blogosphere is just another communication channel for bloggers. That sounds obvious doesn’t it but let me explain why I think it’s a relevant observation. Introverts tend to propagate introverted blogs; they battle to form alliances, attract readership and build a community. Extroverts tend proliferate extroverted blogs; they just connect easily, their readership flourishes and they end up belonging. *
Normative Christianity is characterised by social and communal behaviour. We call it Christian fellowship, brotherly love and practising the one another’s. ** Right from the start Christians were identifiably as connected to one another. Consider Acts 2:41 – 47,
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day
there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to
prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed
were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were
sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day
continuing with one mind in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, they were
taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and
having favor with all the people. And the Lord was
adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
I guess my point is that many Christian bloggers see the blogosphere as a wider platform for interaction. This is good. They do this for a number of differing reasons: Some seek fellowship (Blogroll Guy), some seek diversity (Comment-all-over-the-place Guy), some seek uniformity (Denomination-Upfront Guy) and some just seek a platform (although Bullhorn Guy might not be a form of interaction as it’s not two way communication).
The platform can be a useful tool to facilitate interaction and I believe this is a natural progression from the blogger who writes out of a motivation of Introspection (see http://markpenrith.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/why-blog-introspection-part-1/).
* Does anyone know if there’s any research to support this?
** Do I need to point out that fellowship stands with worship, teaching and evangelism as pillars of the New Testament Church?
South Christian African Bloggers who I believe really get this right:
Sharkbait was the fish I wrote to when I decided I wanted to blog. He steered me through setting up. He’s Anglican and worships with my family down in the Eastern Cape. He has a surprisingly large following of woman (I follow his comments RSS and am frequently struck by how popular he is).
Others I believe are in this category are: Dion’s random ramblings, Khanya, Ryan Peter Blogs and stuff and .
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