After decades of simmering discontent a new form of media gives opponents of an authoritarian regime a way to express their views, register their solidarity and co-ordinate their actions. The protesters’ message spreads virally through social networks, making it impossible to suppress and highlighting the extent of public support for revolution. The combination of improved publishing technology and social networks is a catalyst for social change where previous efforts had failed.

A familiar sounding tale — except it happened 500 years ago.

Luther’s enemies likened the spread of his ideas to a sickness. The papal bull threatening Luther with excommunication in 1520 said its aim was “to cut off the advance of this plague and cancerous disease so it will not spread any further”. The Edict of Worms in 1521 warned that the spread of Luther’s message had to be prevented, otherwise “the whole German nation, and later all other nations, will be infected by this same disorder.”

Yes, Luther’s ideas were “going viral”.

Modern society tends to regard itself as somehow better than previous ones, and technological advance reinforces that sense of superiority. But history teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun. Robert Darnton, an historian at Harvard University, who has studied information-sharing networks in pre-revolutionary France, argues that “the marvels of communication technology in the present have produced a false consciousness about the past—even a sense that communication has no history, or had nothing of importance to consider before the days of television and the internet.”

“There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Seems like the main improvement is in the speed of transmission. Certainly something worth thinking about in this age of seemingly unprecedented innovation.

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.

Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.

Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;

– Isaiah 55:1-6

Truly a Christmas feast for all of us to share in.

Get the wisdom of the house of mourning. Learn from the shadow of your own funeral. One thing matters. Whether you make an iPhone, or use an iPhone, let every breath, every thought, every deed be one thing—the “work of faith”—the work of the Lord.

]]> http://hschin.com/2010/01/urbana09-he-dwelled-among-us/feed/ 0 http://hschin.com/2009/10/your-love-is-strong/ http://hschin.com/2009/10/your-love-is-strong/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:24:00 +0000 hschin http://hschin.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/your-love-is-strong Continue reading →]]>

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

-Jon Foreman

A really powerful song that I was introduced to over the weekend. There is so much contained in the words of the song that I was tempted to just paste all the lyrics here. Take a look at the words in the song as you listen to it. It really moved me when I first heard the song. And it was fitting that I heard it in the car as we were driving out to the Eastern Townships to admire God’s creation.

This is one of my favorite shots of the whole trip. It came right at the end as we made our way home. We crossed a river just as the sun was setting and we decided to turn back to stop along the side of the river and admire the sunset.