Baker also wonders "what kind of religious community is built through video sharing. Users have access to video, but I am not sure how much access they have to each other."
The virtual Prayer Wall, added to GodTube in December, links visitors to the Web site more intimately than video sharing, Baker says. It "demonstrates the common struggles that users confront, and the idea that the whole community of users could pray for you personally is powerful. This connects a key religious ritual, prayer, to the virtual community and probably solidifies the bonds between users."
As evangelists appropriate the media of popular culture, Sharlet sees a paradox: A religious community that once identified itself by shunning mainstream culture now depends on it. "The crazy thing is that that's kind of heretical, by any standard - liberal, mainline or hardcore fundamentalist," Sharlet says. The result is in some ways a distinction without a difference: Evangelists are "in the world and of it, merely substituting the signs of their authority for those of secular capitalism's."
GodTube's founder, on the other hand, describes the Web site as "evangelism on the next level." Wyatt takes issue with the contention that the medium itself may overpower the message as viewers stay glued to their computer screens. We "don't see ourselves as a false idol," Wyatt says.
But even Houston, whose "Lifehouse Everything" skit has been viewed more than 4 1/2 million times, is concerned about the Web site's limitations. "It's exciting, but at the same time that we know we've pierced the heart of a generation, [we have to ask], `What are we going to do next?'" the ordained minister says.
Does he worry that GodTube may become an end in itself and thereby relieve viewers of their responsibilities to others and to God?
"Yes, it's a concern," Houston says. "We're really focused now," he says of brethren who share his commitment. But as GodTube spreads the virtual Word, he wonders, "In 10 years, will we be as focused?"
stephanie.shapiro@baltsun.com
Religious videos
Here is a selection of other video sharing sites with a religious theme:
JewTube.com: A mix of Jewish topics, humor, culture and politics.
Yideoz.com: From a Jewish Basketball Hall of Fame presentation to the online hit, "Feed Me Bubbe," a video cooking program.
IslamTube.com: Sermons, spiritual advice and Islamic commentary.
ChristianTube: Music, videos, social networking and Bible studies.
