Digital Bibles Help Men Read More But Retain Less
“Data suggests Christians are unaware of the effect the medium has on the message.” - Christianity Today
Another [study] has shown that men and women view the Bible differently and once this is accounted for they tend to report the same feeling of being close with God.
Biblically speaking, why do we make a big deal out of the “feeling of being close with God”? Where are we taught that this feeling is a vital spiritual life indicator?
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
When you’re reading the Bible on your phone or tablet/pad, you are going to get distractions coming through while you read, unless you’re one of those rare birds who doesn’t get a lot of distractions, or is in a Faraday cage or something.
Seriously, I personally find that my best study time is when I bring out my “inner monk” and do copywork. You notice all kinds of things when you’re writing 20 words per minute instead of reading 1000, to put it mildly. It’s important to do what it takes so one can concentrate and meditate on what one sees. In this case, the mere fact that one has a book on their lap or on the table in front of them means they are going to be less distracted.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Copying is a fantastic way to meditate!
So is paraphrasing.
As for Bible-on-screen, I do my best work on a laptop and only do casual reference reading on small screens. There’s very little to distract me on the laptop, and I’m not all that easily distracted anyway. And the study tools on the laptop are excellent.
My advice for adapting to tech in general is ‘addition, not substitution.’ As a slogan, it doesn’t fit every situation, but for Bible reading and study, the small screen is great for some things, but not a substitute for paper and ink in its place.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
Discussion