Soul of Cyberspace How New Technology Is [Paperback]

Jeffrey P Zaleski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

In a pioneering journey to faith's new frontier--cyberspace, where traditional religions are reinvented and new ones are created--the acclaimed coauthor of "Transformations: Awakening to the Sacred in Ourselves" charts technology's radical impact on the ways in which the world prays, worships, preaches, and believes.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The possibility that the Internet can be more than just a purveyor of information is staring us right in the face. Seasoned religion writer Jeff Zaleski tweaks the minds of today's leading cyberspeculators and Web-literate religious adepts to map out its possibilities for religion and spirituality. Crackling conversations ensue, and the reader is treated to a smorgasbord of futuristic brainstorming, mystical revelations, and practical functionality, some of which is already in place. A list of key religious Web sites and background information on technical terms add to the richness of Zaleski's inquiry. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Zaleski (Transformations, Crown, 1995), editor-at-large for Publishers Weekly, sets out on a reporter's quest to find prana ("life force") in the virtual reality of the World Wide Web. On his journey, he visits Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu web sites, finding plenty of folks eager to discuss the sacred on the net. In extended conversations, online pioneers John Perry Barlow, Jaron Lanier ("What is transubstantiation, if not virtual reality?"), and Mark Pesce illumine the path. And cool web sites are pointed out along the way. Zaleski's coverage is thorough and enthusiastic on Eastern sites, less so on Western, though Zaleski writes that "as of early 1997, Christian Web sites comprised more than 80% of the Web sites of the world's five major (most influential) religions." There is some coverage of Catholic sites (including the Virtual Diocese of Partenia) but comparatively little on mainline Protestantism. For additional insights and information in this area, see the cyberseeker's chapter ("Spirituality On-line") in Debra K. Farrington's Romancing the Holy (Crossing, 1997). Well recommended for general readers.?John R. Leech, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins Publisher (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062514520
• ISBN-13: 978-0062514523
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,785,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mildly interesting but certainly not deep., September 30, 1997

By 

BRIAN D DIEHM (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soul of Cyberspace: How New Technology Is Changing Our Spiritual Lives (Hardcover)

A comparitive survey of what differing religious groups (from Zen to Hasadic Jewish to Catholic to New Age and more) are doing to create a presence in Cyberspace, mostly the world-wide web.

Not truly revelatory in either spirituality or the implications of cyberspace, but some of those interviewed have thoughtful comments on how they see the role of their work.

This book is far from scholarly, and sometimes seems hurried into publication. It's closer to a series of brief interviews, combined with the author's reactions, than an organized exposition. There seems more strength in the cyber/philosophy side than in any religious area, mostly thanks to some thoughtful insights from one techno-philosopher. This makes it slightly deeper in technological consideration than spiritual, but neither area is treated rigorously nor with depth.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, provocative exploration of spirituality on the Net, October 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Soul of Cyberspace: How New Technology Is Changing Our Spiritual Lives (Hardcover)

This is a searching, deeply informative book that is by far the best I've seen yet on spirituality, religion and the Internet. Zaleski is a good and lively writer who makes his exploration of online spirituality fun and exciting to read. He does two things in the book. He gives an overview of what's going on spiritually online--what the various major religions and more homegrown spiritual groups are doing online, and what they hope to accomplish. What makes this aspect of the book so strong is that rather than just discuss Web and Usenet sites, Zaleski went out and talked to the men and women who are pioneering the spiritual use of cyberspace, from Zen Webmasters to Pagan programmers. The book also provides what seems to me to be a thorough and very provocative discussion of the implications of digital spirituality--what it means to try to transpose spiritual and religious work into a virtual, bodyless realm. He also considers at length the ramifications of artificial life and artificial intelligence. Here too, Zaleski includes conversations with some high profile digital pioneers, including Mark Pesce, who created HTML, and Tom Ray, the creator of the artificial life experiment Tierra. This is a book that tackles the very most imporant religious, spiritual, and philosophic questions raised by cyberspace, and I recommend it very highly.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful insight on what makes the Internet pulsate., August 26, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soul of Cyberspace: How New Technology Is Changing Our Spiritual Lives (Hardcover)

Jeff Zaleski takes you behind the scenes of the screen and shows how the Internet is filled with idealists who care for others. If you want to understand the power that sits at your fingertips, you must read this book. It's your chance to change the world to a better place. All you need is the resolve to care for others and share your G-d given talents with millions of people who are searching for meaning in life.