Image via Wikipedia Yes, it will be shamelessly modeled after the successful (if not very commented-on) series on “What the Church can Learn from Wikipedia.” Check out that series here. And yes, it will be less intellectually-heavy as that series…I learned my lesson on shorter, concise blog posts! Your comments are welcome, since we have lots of new people since then!
I believe there are relevant lessons that the Church as an institution can learn from both online phenomenon (Wikipedia) and the against-all-odds phenomenon of underdog businesses that tap into something (Apple). We are not talking about fundamental changes to beliefs; more likely operating changes and adaptations that have emerged from these areas.
For the scoffers that say the church doesn’t need secular advice, you are welcome to ignore HX.net on Wednesdays. 😉 I don’t force you to read this blog!
But the rest of you, look for it on Wednesday. Some starter questions:
- People read speculation like crazy about the upcoming products from Apple. Why is there such fervor over new products? What does Apple do that causes this?
- Apple’s product mantra seems to be “simplify and interconnect”: everything is simple and works together. In your church structures, are things simple and interconnected, or very complex and disconnected?
“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take….my iPod!”
I wonder why you choose Apple instead of Linux. Are you talking about Apple as a successful company? I would suspect so, because I see way more theological fodder in describing Linux. Is this going to be another church marketing post?
Much of what I would say about Linux I have already said about Wikipedia: mass collaboration and processes and such. But it may happen in the future…thanks for ruining the surprise! 😉
No, I’ve had this series written for a few months now, tweaking it. It is more than marketing, but if it doesn’t seem that way, please feel free to call me on it.
“Why is there such fervor over new products?”
I think part of the fervor is how rapidly things have changed in our every day life…how many people still listen to music in a discman (much less a walkman?) and who would have thought that I’d be able to make my own DVD movie on my powerbook?
This morning I watched a 1946 movie called “night and day.” To show the passage of time in the life of the character you watched them move from horse and buggy to car and from sailing to flying. Until we all have hovercrafts I think the area of greatest change in society’s technology relates to the sorts of products that Apple specializes in. Personal productivity – for both work and pleasure.