I notice that the Churches are beginning to address the issue of online communion. On the whole they are saying it cannot be done which is not surprising as it is a way of being church that is beyond their immediate control and it even challenges the need for the institutional church.
I have been producing podcasts of services of holy communion for a few years. Personally, although I am fully aware of what they mean to me, I claim nothing as far as my listeners are concerned. They are what they are. But should the liturgists et al of the churches need to put online communion into a properly labelled box I suggest that they only need to ask themselves one question which is:
"Who changes the bread and the wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ - the priest, the people or God?"
Once they have sussed that out the efficacy of internet eucharists should become apparent - even to the most complexity craving theologian.
Used to be there was all sorts of things you couldn’t do online. I mean how could your personal relationship with the bank be carried on online?
Hey presto!
Now even the bank can cope with online transactions. I think you can think what I’m thinkin’…
Maybe God can fathom a way. Real Presence anyone?
Knots Untied….indeed.
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Color me ambivalent. I love online . . . almost anything. As an introvert, it’s the way I “get out in the world” more than any other.
At the same, even more than the “brick&mortar” bookstore, I want to preserve the brick&mortar church. Cybersex isn’t really sex (gotta have that flesh-on-flesh friction!). And so also sacraments: incarnation, in-meat-ment. (JMO)
[Of course, the burden for this, is those Keeping Out those who, by rights, should be welcome to the brick&mortar, for sexy sacraments. Gatekeepers: BOO! Shame! Fail!]