Yes, the title might seem like a non sequitur. As far as I know, the Bible is rather ambiguous about the internet and lacks any prophetic utterances about whether Craigslist, Facebook or Amazon are "Christian sites." The deeper issue, broadly understood as the use, critique and affirmation of technology within Christian life, is a real issue though, especially considering how common internet "fellowship" (e.g. Facebook) is becoming. So I don't mean to trivialize it, but suggest instead that we need to mine the resources of the Bible and the Christian tradition in order to think about how to use such technology. But I can suggest one example of how not to use the Bible in relationship to the internet.
Before delving into the substance of my argument, a quick definition to make sure that we are all on the same page: Net Neutrality. Huh? Well, as far as I understand it (so correct me if I am wrong), this idea is about legally obligating internet providers to ensure that all content is equal in terms of the right to use the internet. Example: if you imagine the internet as a highway, and this blog is a moped and Amazon is a semi-truck, Qwest, my internet provider, has to ensure that there is equal regard for both my moped and the semi-truck. Well, Congress, specifically several Republicans, are debating with the FCC over who has the right to regulate the internet and this net neutrality regulation, which the FCC has approved as a regulative principle. The issue is that internet providers--like Verizon--want to make more money off the internet. In their view, if the highway is filled with semi-trucks that have to pay lots of money to use the net, rather than mopeds that don't, then Verizon can make more money. So they want to end net neutrality because they want more paying trucks on the highway. Make sense?
So what does this have to do with the Bible? Well, a leading conservative Christian, Dave Barton, makes the claim that the Bible is opposed to net neutrality because it isn't just as it promotes the radical redistribution of income, and is thus a form of the wickedness that is socialism. In his radio show on Tuesday, he said: "But we talk about it today because it is a principle of free market. That’s a Biblical principle, that’s a historical principle, we have all these quotes from Ben Franklin, and Jefferson and Washington and others on free market and how important that is to maintain. That is part of the reason we have prosperity. This is what the Pilgrims brought in, the Puritans brought in, this is free market mentality. Net Neutrality sounds really good, but it is socialism on the Internet." (Ironically, this puts him in opposition to the National Religious Broadcasters and the Christian Coalition.)
In order to muddy his water a bit, I'll just use the Bible (Acts 4:31-36, NRSV): 31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Hmmm, the Bible is a free market guide that exposes the wickedness of socialism? Maybe it doesn't affirm the non-theistic, Marxist form of Socialism based on value being derived from making a product, but these passages (i.e. no private ownership) certainly affirm a sense that all property is social property, rather than individual property (which is also counter John Locke's use of Genesis).
I'd be glad to hear more from Mr. Barton about a biblical affirmation of the free market in order to better have a debate about the Bible and economics. Do you think he'd be up for it? I would.... We need it to ensure that Christianity and capitalism are not synonymous, but that Jesus' call to feed the hungry and bring news to the poor centers our ethical lives and moves us all towards the full life that God calls us to each day.
For more on Mr. Barton: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/barton-bible-opposes-net-neutrality
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