How does the Church evangelize in the Electronic Information Age? Does your parish or diocese view and use the Internet as a new “portal” to fulfill the timeless essential mission of the Church: proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ?

According to these authors, the Church cannot expect to have an impact in proclaiming the Gospel by doing what it did in the Age of the Printing Press, which was "explain doctrine." This new Information Age demands “doing different things” as opposed to “doing things differently."

According to an informal research project by the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, for many people between the ages of 3 and 40 and over 61, using the new media, particularly the Internet, is NOW a  way of life….The age group most resistant to fully using the new media are those between ages 41 and 60. However, the time spent using electronic media by believers and nonbelievers alike is a call to the local church to be alert as to how people are being shaped and reshaped by this media.

“People today are fascinated by the image, by what is visible and concrete, rather than by reason and abstract knowledge. This means we have to rediscover the image dimension of the Gospel. Since the word that moves, attracts and empowers people today is not an abstract doctrinal word but the word of story, metaphor and image, we must recover that liberating word in all aspects of our religious experience” (page 157.).

To assist the reader in “thinking outside the box,” this book is written as a dialogue between the authors. Each author develops a section by drawing on their own expertise and experience in catechesis, evangelization and communications. The epilogue is in the form of a conversation between the two authors and an interviewer. Each chapter concludes with questions for personal and group reflection.

I found this format convenient. Once I had an overview of the book; I could reread selected sections for a clearer understanding how the authors envision this “electronic paradigm shift” impacting Catholic evangelization efforts.

Reviewed by Lorraine Vancamp, Glenmary’s evangelization consultant

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