Spiritual Applications to Web 3.0 thinking

Imagine a website called WikiBible.com where an authoritative biblical text would be produced by online interpretive contributions. Would anybody want to read—or base spiritual conclusions on—inexpert Bible analysis? Of course not. Bible students want to know that the Bible version they are reading has stood the test of time and/or the test of scholarship of those who have dedicated their lives to proper biblical exegesis.

Likewise, the presently popular post-modernistic interpretation of truth and information, where heretofore has had no hierarchy or organizing principle, is also coming under question. People are asking its practitioners, “On what are you basing your opinions, and is that basis authoritative?”

Religious extremists will always have their say. This is, after all, America, which prides itself on the right to free speech. But those who err or stray too far from orthodox Christianity must be willing to stand up under inevitable criticism. The World Wide Web has created an enormous platform for commentary of all kinds, including religious—but the cream will float to the top. Quality content will be seen by more people than inferior content: much more.

What now?

The results of Web 3.0 are already taking form online. Expertvillage.com boasts that they are the world’s largest distributor of How-To Videos. In order to display your videos on the site, the filmmaker needs to be qualified with his experience and equipment. Then, the filmmaker’s subject, the expert, needs qualification, to demonstrate his expertise on the site. No amateurs are allowed. About.com employs professional “guides.”

The restrictions to be on TED.com are even stricter. You cannot appear on TED.com unless the editors there invite you. TED, standing for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a website dedicated to bringing the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers. The subjects who speak on TED are proven leaders in the professional community. Recent speakers have included Al Gore, Jane Goodall, and Brian Green. Again, no amateurs allowed.

Populist, UGC-type websites will always be around as long as people want a forum to raise their voice, but their voice may be increasingly unheard as long as expert, vetted content is also made available and encouraged.

The tide is turning. People want the truth. They want what is real. They don’t want garbagey, useless information. The future of the web remains certain. Its content and how it is disseminated is evolving.

The truth is out there. Can you find it?

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