Internet Anonymity

Alastair (pro), Matt (anti), and Andrew (some of both) discuss whether anonymity on the Internet can ever be virtuous.

Is it licit for Christians to be anonymous on the internet? What role could anonymity play in evangelism? Should you tell your pastor about your secret accounts? And is Twitter the only problem? Andrew, Alastair, and Matt (n.b., not anonymous) discuss.

Links Mentioned:

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The Mere Orthodoxy essay under discussion: “Speech Without Accountability: Reckoning with Anonymous Christian Trolls,” by Patrick Miller

The Book of the Month for September is Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission by Michael Niebauer. Niebauer proposes a theology of mission grounded in virtue and theological ethics, advocating a view of Christian mission as specific activities that develop virtue in their practitioners and move them toward the ultimate goal of partaking in the glory of God. Get a 40% discount on this essential resource at lexhampress.com/merefidelity.

Timestamps

0:22
(Virtuous) Persuasion
1:40
Like a Bear Out of Hibernation
2:24
Speech Without Accountability
3:49
Pseudonymity & Obscurity
12:02
Different Speeches for Different Spaces
16:03
Named Trolls
20:42
Pastoral Accountability
24:47
Give It Up
32:00
The Giant Bird in the Room
38:13
Detach and Engage

Follow Derek, Andrew, and Alastair for more tweet-sized brilliance. Thanks to Timothy Crouch for keeping us organized. Special thanks to Tim Motte for sound editing and show notes. And thanks to The Joy Eternal for lending us their music, which everybody should download out of gratitude for their kindness.

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