God is a hot niche category on the Internet right now. Long ago we covered GodTube, a YouTube for Jesus types. More recently News Corp bought BeliefNet, a news and community site for Christians.
So the timing for LifeInTheFishBowl is spot on. It’s a social network and content site for Christians. It’s still in development but you can sign up for the site on the home page, read their blog and watch an overview video, below. By the look of things, they really need a web designer.
You’ll enjoy the site if you want to hang out with like minded people and debate Darwin v. the Bible, etc. But even better, these sites tend to attract women in droves. Sure, Facebook is almost 2/3 women, but Christian focused sites tend to be even more women dominated (BeliefNet’s audience is 70% women). So if you are Christian, or want to pretend you are Christian to date women, sign up for LifeInTheFishBowl now.
Also, if you’re Lutheran, you can get on the board of directors of the company. Founder Joe Burnham writes “I’m writing because I’m looking for young Lutheran (http://lcms.org) geeks who might be interested in being part of the projects Board of Directors. We’re not asking for a huge commitment time wise, but we’d like to have some younger, tech savvy input as the project continues to develop over time.” Not sure why you have to be Lutheran as opposed to one of the other Christian cults, but those are the rules. And since God is backing this startup, those stock options just might be worth something some day.
i tried to be christian for many years. i just got so bored of reading the same book every sunday.
your fellow primate,
angela hayden
art goddess
first.
can i have my 5 minutes back please for sitting through that video. And it’s interesting that the video doesn’t specifically say religion at all.
way too long a video if they want to get people excited about the site.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of l964 prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment.
http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html
“Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of l964 prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment.”
He’s right. That’s also illegal in Canada. I know that because I’m an employer.
You can discriminate if the job requires something. Like if a job requires perfect English, you could tell somebody that doesn’t speak it as a first language no, or if you are hiring models for the runway and a fat woman applies. But a board of directors job biased on religion, I do not believe that would fall in the guidelines even for a religious based website, because he is looking for technical advisory, not religious consultation as per his own job offer.
“Christian cults”?
It’ll likely pass muster for the same reason that his emphasis on “young” Lutherans will pass, despite this being age discrimination–he’s looking for the person to represent a viewpoint, the Young Lutheran, and this seems to be related to the primary mission of the company. It’s akin to how Catholic schools can prefer Catholic teachers, even for non-religion teachers, but probably not prefer Catholic janitors over non-Catholic janitors.
Fishbowl? Dating?
I don’t get it.
“It’ll likely pass muster for the same reason that his emphasis on “young” Lutherans will pass”
Nothing will happen unless a non-Lutheran applies and is denied the job on the board based on the fact that he is not Lutheran, and he can prove that he would have been able to do the job anyway. The burden of proof is always on the person making the claim.
2/3 vs 70% is only a 4% difference. That’s actually a pretty insubstantial difference.
Additionally, Lutherism isn’t a cult.
Lastly, if this is a religious 501c3, they can have religious stipulations, just like a church could require the pastor be a professing Christian, a mosque could require Islamic staff or am atheist group could require atheist leadership.
Chris R,
3 of the past 10 comments here are yours…
stop spamming, or you’ll go to hell
ha sounds like an Onion inspired post
“stop spamming, or you’ll go to hell”
Can I upgrade to business class though?
Beliefnet is not a Christian site its a spirituality site. There is a major difference.
From Beliefnet’s About:
“Beliefnet is the largest spiritual web site. We are independent and not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement. Our only agenda is to help you meet your spiritual needs.”
Aparently only white people use this site (not one non-white in entire video)
@Nathan Clark
Please define for us the difference between religion and cult. Second, Atheism is not a religion, as you imply through your statement. It is by definition a-theism or without theism; in other words it simply means lacking belief in the existence of a god or gods.
I like it. It’s an online social networking site that encourages users to get out from behind their computers and have face to face conversations. Revolutionary stuff!
And the emphasis on helping users get in touch with “house churches”, and helping “house churches” form official congregations is interesting. I could see this having a significant effect on Christian culture here in the US. I could even see other faiths imitating this model. For example, I’ve heard of small communities of Muslims forming their own “garage mosques” as an alternative to the more formal institutions. It won’t be long before they’re taking their communities online as well.
Mind your manners, young Michael. Life is too short to be purposefully offensive.
If anyone wants to develop my godblog.org domain name into a competitor, have at it and we’ll split whatever goes in the collection bowl. Email me. Contact form on my website (click my name). God bless.
there we go
there (sorry)
“Christian cults”?
Oh my Mike. You recently said you try to be correct and not worry about other people. I think you failed on both accounts here.
That’s cool. I wonder how it will work with the different denominations though. Can there be an online holy war?
hey, that’s a nice idea… different faiths can have their own social networks and I can chose my religion depending of which network has the hottest chicks!
techguy - the foreign policy of our country is being dictated by a small but vocal Christian minority. They got their war, it’s ok for us to make fun of them sometimes, too. At least until they amend the constitution, anyway.
you’re weird.
Whoa there, Michael. Lumping all Christians together with the warmongering Neo-Conservatives is no smarter than lumping all the Muslims together with the terrorists. Never mind the fact that many of the Neo-Conservatives were not Christian.
Perhaps you missed the many Christian leaders, including the Pope, who frequently and loudly objected to the invasion. Perhaps you missed the many leaders of other faiths who asked our government to use reason and intelligence rather than mindless violence. Perhaps you missed the millions from all around the globe, representing every faith on the planet, who organized the world’s largest anti-war demonstration in the weeks prior to the invasion.
Perhaps you were sleeping.
I’d advise you to stick with the Tech issues, Michael. When you comment on political, social or historical issues you sound like Duncan Riley. And that’s not a compliment.
I don’t get it- what’s with TechCrunch’s writers today? First Mike disses Christians, then Duncan disses 50 Cent. I’m looking for tech news here, not to feel bad that I’m a Christian 50 Cent fan.
Michael, your war comment is absurd. As a devout Christian entrepeneur (and big TC fan), I never endorsed a war. Don’t confuse the “religous right” lobby with everyday people who simply want to be like Christ.
Now, about your “cults” comment. Weren’t you blasting digg recently for not managing racist comments? But now you’re making anti-christian jokes. Nice.
I’m still a fan, though. I have tough skin. Just think it was in bad taste.
sounds good in theory, but these dating sites never work. it won’t be long before the fake profiles pop up. i tried yahoo and match and true in the past and it was all the same. the attractive girls are fake and the not so attractive girls are real. on the flip side, if facebook really is 2/3 female, sign me up.
Michael: In the words of Laura Ingraham, “shut up and sing.” The “Christian cult” crack was bad enough, the comments about the war even more out of place. I’ve unsubscribed.
Michael: What “cult” do you belong to?
Reminds me of Hotenough.org. Trying to divide people on superficial grounds seems like a bad idea to me.
I knew that would get you guys all fired up.
I’m been reading too much Richard Dawkins latey. I’m sure I’ll settle down in a couple of months.
Oh come on guys, at least once in a while you need to refresh your minds on things like this and it’s good to know that Christians are now offering online resources.. very nice idea, especially if they want to reach those hard to reach places.
Nhick
http://www.itrush.com
Consider me unsubscribed; if I wanted to read about politics or religion, I’d find it elsewhere.
I love this “let’s openly discuss evolution etc” BS, the problem is that it isn’t UP FOR DISCUSSION, it’s a fact that they choose to ignore.
They are only as open as their bible says they are - I think the fishbowl analogy is very apt in this case. I hope they enjoy living in a closed-minded and brainwashed state with their fellow close-minded and brainwashed associates.
I am happy that most Christians are open minded enough to realize how great the story of the bible is, when not taken literally. It is as valuable as the Koran, it’s only the fractional vocal minority that make the rest look bad.
Jon
God brought Google.
Atheist brought Yahoo.
Satan brought Facebook.
What’s God revenue for Internet 3.0?
What’s Satan revenue for Internet 3.0?
Christian chick are hot, don’t you think?
Why is Evolution theory keep f*cking people’s brains out?
Half of students drop out college and got depresss. My closest friend who is christian and scientist. He discover SARS isn’t God made disease engineering. It’s not cause by mutate animals, mutate genes. He told me It’s military style redtape. They use to unlock bank accounts.
You can modify DNA, human blue print, and alter it.
“christian cults”
Could you possibly be more insensitive? I am absolutely disgusted. You are not clever. You are unbelievably ignorant. Comments like this make me think that free speech isn’t worth it.
I have been reading TC for about a year but right after I click submit, I am taking this feed off of my reader. I feel sick to my stomach.
Take a cheap shot (one that makes absolutely no sense) at 1/3 of the entire world population, not to mention to the man who was crucified to save you from your sins.
Yet somehow, He still loves you. I’ll pray for you when my anger subsides. But I won’t be resubscribing.
Like Mike gives a shit about you losers who unsubscribe, who cares.
“other Christian cults” - I love it as that is exactly what they are, well said!
It’s quite disappointing to see M. Arrington’s narrowmindedness & scapegoating.
Regarding the Lutheran issue, this is from their “About” page:
“The Fishbowl is a mission of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.”
They’re almost certainly a 501c3, which means they can hire only Lutherans if they want.
Also, Michael, do stick with technology. It’s far better than your politics. Those nefarious neoconservatives (among whom I count myself four days of the week) who are controlling our foreign policy could hardly be characterized as members of the religious right (which, to the extent that it exists, I am a member of).
And if you’re view of Christianity is taken from Dawkins, well, then…..I apologize. There are far more sophisticated critiques in the world than those offered by the so-called “new atheists.”
I’m going to descend back into my nerdy intellectual hole and shut up know.
Doh!
The last word should be “now.”
Credibility………..ruined. Alas.
Do any of you upset Christians even know what a cult is? Here’s a tip, look it up in the dictionary.
http://m-w.com/dictionary/cult
I fail to see how “Christian cult” is such a bad term.
@Chris (#46) - This might help explain it for you:
http://m-w.com/dictionary/connotation
Fuck Richard Dawkins.
Mike, here are a couple links for you in case you want a more balanced case for theism.
http://www.christianitytoday.c...../1.21.html
http://www.reasonablefaith.org.....mp;id=5493
http://www.reasonablefaith.org.....me=q_and_a
I recommend reading these books:
http://www.amazon.com/Dawkins-.....ATZ18E1T67
http://www.amazon.com/Dawkins-....._b_title_2
On the existence of God:
http://www.amazon.com/Reasonab.....amp;sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Existenc.....amp;sr=1-2
Deleting comments, Arrington? I could see it if my comment had been a flame, but it wasn’t. Whatever- it’s your blog.
I guess you can dish it out, but you can’t take it. Too bad.
Hey - I’m all for God. Big believer, or at least very, very hopeful. Its religion that scares the hell out of me. They get all riled up and start killing things.