What is NeoPsalms?
NeoPsalms is one of my first attempts to explore the conversations and stories that people publicly post on the internet.
Psalms, the 19th book of the Bible, is filled of conversations with God. Through reading the words, we can empathize with the writer who may be suffering through hard times or enjoying plentiful times. It is my belief that a new Psalms is being created every day online. As people chronicle their lives in their blogs and journals, conversations with God are taking place. Individuals write down their interactions with God; their hopes, feelings, prayers, praises, complaints, outcries and grievances. By capturing these conversations, I see a new Psalms: NeoPsalms.
The paradox of public anonymity
It's interesting. A majority of blogs have fewer than 2 readers - if any! Since 2002, Technorati has indexed 133 million blog records. Oh snap, that's a lot. The top blogs grab most of the readership leaving most of the little blogs without any readers. Thus, these reader-less blogs are akin to the traditional private journal.
Yet they're public! Every post on NeoPsalms is publicly available. The author is still somewhat anonymous because of the vast amount of information there is to wade through. This state of public anonymity is created allowing authors to pour out their innermost (and authentic) feelings.
Why are there hateful entries?
Many times people assume all the Psalms in the Bible were of a superflous, elegant and praising manner. To be fair, most are. Scanning through NeoPsalms, there are a lot of praise entries. However, there are several Psalms that question God and his tactics (a few examples). Likewise, there are several people every day that question God. It is not unbiblical or sacriligeous to question God, we just have to be ready for his answer (see Job).
Scanning through NeoPsalms will reveal some entries which are downright hateful. Through my studies I have not come across a Psalm which is hateful towards God. Many in the world today feel they have reason to hate God. While I disagree with the content of these conversations, they are conversations nonetheless. God hears the prayers of everyone, even those who don't necessarily like Him.
I realize this may be a sensitive topic. If you would like to pray and talk about it, feel free to send me an email.
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