"Googling Baptists" (October 2004)

            Who are Baptists in the 21^st century?  What better place to turn to for an answer to this question than that vast repository of insight an knowledge, otherwise known as Google.

            Here are a few Google searches that offer insights into modern Baptists:

            A search for “famous Baptists” returns a site that groups Billy Graham, Fred Phelps and Jerry Falwell together.  No wonder the world is confused as to who Baptists are!  Just as insightfully, the first result for “infamous Baptists” is entitled, “The Infamous (and unsuccessful) Disney Boycott.”  Somehow I’m not sure if Southern Baptists will ever live that one down.

            Food has long been a favorite subject of Baptists, who, when not eating, are frequently thinking about food.  A search for “Baptist recipe” leads to the “Baptist Pound Cake” page.  The recipe sounds pretty good to me.

            Taking the food theme a bit further, searching for “Baptist gluttony” greets the searcher with, “Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Leesburg.”  I’m sure they have some wonderful Wednesday night meals.

            And how about “Baptists and sweet tea?”  That search leads to the site “Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes Review.”  Sip and run, anyone?

            Finally, a search for “Baptists and fried chicken” returns an article entitled, “Southern Baptists credit growth to evangelism.”  Leave it to Baptists to turn fried chicken into an evangelistic tool.  (Personally, I’d rate fried catfish right up there with fried chicken, however.)

            Certain things have traditionally been taboo for many Baptists.  “Baptist dancing” leads to a site called “Atlanta Contra Dancing.”  Most Baptists have probably not even heard of Contra Dancing … but it may be coming your way.

            How about Baptists and other faiths, or even non-faiths?  A search for “Baptists and atheists” returns “Baptists have highest divorce rate.”  Ditto for “Baptists and agnostics.”  Personally, I have my doubts about that one.

            Everyone knows that Baptists believe the Bible.  Do a search for, “do Baptists believe the Bible,” and a page titled “Texas Baptists Believe the Bible!” pops up.  You know those Texans … always thinking they can do things bigger and better than anyone else!

            And finally, for those who have never met a Baptist but would like to become acquainted with this peculiar specifies, a search for “the best place to meet Baptists” returns the site, “101 Christian Dating Service: Free Christian Singles Chat.”

            So there you have it, the brave new Baptist world via Google.  But she (or he) who laughs beware:  the members of the wired generation can easily and quickly find out more about Baptists than we prefer they know.