Group Aims
This group was set up to cater for people who had joined in the Alpha course last year. That course provided an introduction to Christian faith within a framework of:
- clear learning from the bible about God and what Jesus has done for us;
- joining together as a caring group which reflects the love God has for us;
- group discussion of what we have learnt about God;
- joining in prayer in thankful praise, and learning to seek to know God’s guidance for us.
This group aims to help people continue the journey they began with Alpha.
So, we will look at verses which relate to basic Christian belief, spend time in prayer as we seek to know God’s will for us, and share our concerns and encouragement as we grow in faith. This simple format will exclude much of the complicated material that other groups may look at.
This format is therefore suitable for people who are new to the church, but it should also suit established church-goers who seek to maintain and strengthen their faith. So, all are welcome!
I think the most important things to gain from this or any group have nothing to do with “right answers”, “correct doctrine” or detailed bible knowledge, and especially not with knowing the right jargon or church tradition, however useful these may be at times.
The important things we can learn are:
- to stop and be silent as we listen for God’s leading as we pray;
- to put aside our ingrained thoughts and attitudes that have come from this world, so as to be open to receive new understanding through His Holy Spirit as we read the bible;
- to encourage others as we share what the Holy Spirit has given, and to be encouraged by others;
- patience and empathy as we walk beside others at different stages in our journey of faith;
- to stop trying to come up with answers ourselves; learning to bring our questions to God, and to wait for His understanding.
Discussion Guidelines
In view of these aims, it’s no surprise that the combative and hostile style of modern social media is not suitable for us. We reflect on questions the secular world doesn’t pretent to try to answer, so we need a different approach, and I suggest the following:
Keep it private
What is shared within the group must stay within the group. We will only be open to sharing our personal experiences if we can rely on that not being told to anyone outside the group.
Keep it personal
We can all read from books and commentaries in our own time, or hear the worldly ideas promoted by the media that lack real answers. What we want to hear from you is what the Holy Spirit has given you during the week to share with us. Sincere contributions given in this way are to valued and encouraged for the original and new perspectives they reveal, from people with different personal challenges, backgrounds, and who are at different stages in life’s journey.
No “wrong” answers
And those sincere answers from the Holy Spirit are never “wrong”, so they are not subject to correction. The only “wrong” answers are those which are not your own.
Many questions benefit from a variety of perspectives, so there is rarely only one possible explanation.
No politics, No divisive social issues
As we focus on God and his Word in the bible, He will draw us closer to Him and to each other. But if we focus on what comes from the fallen world around us, that will only divide us. It’s too easy to pick up assumptions given by the culture wars of Western society, they are obstacles that would trip us when we look at the ultimate questions of life.
Keep it brief
Our numbers are quickly growing, so discussion will need to be brief to allow everyone an opportunity to contribute. But make sure you take time to share what God has given you, you are not meant to keep it to yourself.
Problems of social media
To understand why social media is so inflammatory and unproductive, I decided to ask AI, and its judgment is listed below — press the (+) icon to see the full explanation.
Why the social media approach is toxic to discussion
The cultural wars on social media refer to intense, often hostile conflicts over deeply held values, beliefs, and identities. These battles, amplified by the platform’s structure, are a major driver of the toxic environment.
1. The Core Battlegrounds
The conflicts often revolve around issues of identity, morality, and social policy, including:
Political Ideology and Partisanship: This is one of the most visible battlegrounds. It involves fierce opposition and animosity (affective polarization) between political groups. Disagreement shifts from policy issues to outright rejection and hatred of the opposing group.
Social Justice and Identity Issues: Debates surrounding race, gender, sexuality, and historical narratives (e.g., Critical Race Theory, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, misogyny, and “cancel culture”) are highly contentious. These often manifest as accusations of oppression versus claims of political correctness gone too far.
Media and Information Control: Conflicts erupt over what constitutes “truth” and who has the authority to define it. This includes fighting over misinformation/disinformation, content moderation policies (often framed as “censorship”), and the perceived political bias of media outlets and tech platforms.
Science and Public Health: Issues like climate change, vaccination, and public health policies (especially during crises like pandemics) often become cultural battlegrounds, with opposing sides accusing the other of being anti-science or authoritarian.
2. How Social Media Amplifies Toxicity
The structure and incentives of social media platforms actively exacerbate these cultural wars, leading to increased toxicity:
Algorithmic Amplification: Algorithms are designed to maximize engagement, and highly emotional, polarizing, and outraged content often performs best. This unintentionally rewards hostility and extremism, pushing users toward more radical versions of their own viewpoints.
Echo Chambers and Polarization: While “filter bubbles” don’t entirely isolate users, people are naturally drawn to like-minded groups (ingroups). Toxicity from within one’s own group is a significant driver of more toxic behavior by the individual, as it becomes a way to signal loyalty and identity.
Anonymity and Lack of Accountability: The online environment reduces the social cost of incivility. Users feel less accountable for their behavior than in face-to-face interactions, leading to more aggressive language, name-calling, and harassment.
Weaponization of Emotion: Opposing groups intentionally generate and share content designed to provoke strong negative emotions (especially anger and outrage) to mobilize their base and discredit opponents. This is central to the concept of social media warfare.
3. The Impact of Toxicity
The net effect of these cultural wars is a toxic environment characterized by:
Political Cynicism: Constant exposure to political attacks and hostility fosters distrust in political actors and democratic processes.
Harassment and Hate Speech: Vulnerable and marginalized groups, as well as political figures, are disproportionately targeted with abuse, which can lead to real-world violence or self-censorship and withdrawal from public discourse.
Societal Division: The amplification of extreme and uncivil viewpoints deepens ideological and affective polarization, making constructive dialogue and compromise increasingly difficult.