Online Sermons a Big Hit in S. Korea
More technologically savvy South Korean Christians are flocking to the internet rather than the pews these days to hear the Word of God.
Online churchgoers list the advantage of being able to choose the time and sermon they prefer compared to attending a church service, reported a leading South Korean newspaper on Monday.
"It saves time and also allows me to pick whatever sermon I like," explained Lee Seong-Su, a 32-year-old Sunday online churchgoer, to Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
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The online church experience even includes the traditional church offering through the click of an online donation button.
At South Korea's largest church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, some 135,000 people a day listen to sermons on the church's website, reported Chosun. In comparison, only 40,000-50,000 people regularly attend its Sunday services.
Moreover, popular internet portals report an increase in numbers of religious websites. Naver, South Korea's largest Internet portal, said there are 5,394 non-Catholic Christian church-related websites, 815 Catholic-related sites, and 1,439 Buddhist-related sites.
However, not everyone is happy about the online phenomenon; there are mixed feelings within the church about unseen church members.
"The reality is that people are getting too busy to gather at a church service or Sunday mass," a supporter told Chosun, calling the Internet an effective evangelical tool.
On the other hand, a priest argued, "A crucial part of religious activities is to meet with people. Salvation is in the temple, not on the Internet."
About 70 percent of South Koreans have access to broadband. The country is also composed of the largest Christian population in East Asia, after the Philippines.
