Christianity Today serves as a unique place for evangelicals of all stripes to convene, where thinkers from a variety of backgrounds can discuss and engage in ideas. We wanted to experiment with CT's "village green" format and extend the conversation using Google's new Hangout abilities through Google+.
We start with a topic that has captured the attention of millions of people, most of them women: Pinterest. The relatively new social networking site lets users create virtual boards where people "pin" images related to interests ranging from weddings, food, fitness, and books, to crafts, recipes, and inspiration quotes. Boards offer a mix of cute outfits to mouth-watering caramel chocolate-chip pretzel brownie muffins to IKEA-hacked mudrooms, on bulletin board-like walls that can be viewed and followed by friends and strangers alike. The site has 11 million users, 70 percent of whom are women, drawing especially from the crafty and foodie crowds. Some of you may have embraced the social network and the "Pin all the things!" attitude while others may be holding off or still waiting for an invite.
Last November, regular Her.meneutics writer Laura Leonard wrote on why women are obsessed with Pinterest and what it means to use the site well. We also noticed other posts by Rachel Held Evans (Tennessee), Sarah Bessey (Vancouver), and Rachel Marie Stone (New York) seemed to resonate or aggravate readers as we navigate the pros and cons of any technology. We are always thinking theologically about new tools, engaging in how media can shapes who we are and how we think. Check out the conversation, and please join us in the comments.
Weigh in: Pros and cons to Pinterest? Is there a way to think theologically about the network?
As we consider more hangouts, what would you like to see in the future? Would you be interested in a live format? What works and what doesn't?
Thanks for tuning in.
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Marlena
A quick comment to those who posted about the age/race of the bloggers: Thank you. Her.meneutics does have regular contributing writers (and guest writers) who are a variety of ages, races, and opinions. That's why I love it! As Sarah pointed out, these truly wonderful ladies were selected because of their interest/knowledge of the topic at hand. I believe the rotation would change according to topic. Marlena
Elizabeth Austin
Hi! I am 50+ and pinterest....but I also work full time, grad school full time, have 2 teens and a 28 not leaving home year old- help with church, school , scouts, and attend a Bible study. My pinterest activity is an outreach with non- believing friends and their teens. It works for me as a conversation starter about ethics, purity, values,faith, and then fun stuff. I was interested in finding a faith, Christian, or religion category but didn't find that as yet. I haven't figured out how to do my own board. usual time for it is sat am at bowling alley with youngest league and other parents who tuned me on to it. Try to keep hip and use the latest for outreach similar to Facebook. Peace, Liz
Amanda
My current struggle with Pinterest is that I feel like it feeds the consumerism beast in me that I am trying so hard to tame. The more pins I see, the more money and time I want to spend changing my house, my wardrobe, etc. Pinterest, I wish I knew how to quit you.
Anonymous
I'm almost 70 and peruse Pinterest twice a week as my education about the younger generation of women. I admire their creativity and polished Pinterest presentations -- with a photo, to boot! Recently, more Pins seem aimed to sell something. (I had discovered this purpose when I linked to "Making Money from Pinterest.") Theologically? God is Creator, so gifts people with creative juices, both to develop and to use a site / tool, such as, Pinterest, blogs, fb, youtube, Godtube -- and pens, paint, books, recipes, and so on.
Mark Baker-Wright
Am I still the only guy who's posting here? Finally saw the video. Very interesting discussion. Perhaps it's my "male-ness," but I honestly hadn't even considered the idea of Pinterest as "aspirational" in the sense that was discussed here. For me, it's been almost exclusively a "visual bookmark" (I think that was the term someone on the video used). I'm still getting used to the system, and perhaps it ultimately doesn't suit my own needs as well as other systems, but I am definitely enjoying "feeling it out" to see whether or not I can make use of it in a way that other forums have not yet provided ability.
SARAH PULLIAM
For the ladies who commented about the younger demographic represented in the video, thanks for your thoughts. As far as I know, Pinterest attracts a 20-30's demographic and Google+, which has the Hangout technology, has a younger demographic as well. But we hear you and we're open to something different next time. We are always open to a variety of voices. Send a specific post pitch to spulliam[at]christianitytoday.com.
SARAH PULLIAM
ALP, fixed thanks! Feels like my fly was open this whole time. :)
Linda Stoll
Yes ... it's hard to find great blogs written by women who are 50+. Are you out there? I'm thinking we bring so much to the table, yet our presence is certainly lacking in the evangelical women blog circle ...
Becca
Great conversation and loved the video conference format. I appreciate all the women who took the time to participate. I'd definitely be interested in future talks like this. I'd be okay with a live format as long as I could access it later if I couldn't view it live for some reason. It would be great to view a discussion on women in ministry/leadership in the church. Lots of conversation taking place online already via blogs. Would love a video discussion to go along with the written ones.
Mary
I stayed off of Pinterest until my younger friends coaxed me. Actually, my interests are more along the lines of politics and justice and I thought I would have nothing to do. Well, I went on and the games began! I'm not interested in "Products" or Clothes or party planning, or food necessarily, but found I could make "Boards" to fit me! That's what I like about Pinterest. I've made a board about Women I admire, some art and protest signs from Palestine, then I began to think about my life and made a board about my history. I just began to think about childhood things and went to look for my earliest memories. It is like a scavanger hunt for me. Also, I have a "How do I" board of unusual things, that I do, not typical home making stuff. Of course, now, I have "colors", and "beauty", "horses" so it has enlivened my creative side. I doubt I'll ever do party planning, and I feel there might be a danger of lusting after "things". This would be my warning that I must get off. Oh, and it is addictive too. I also agree with someone who wondered why all of these very nice contributors to this discussion are so young and white. I'm 63 and white, and blog about politics and justice and faith. I enjoy being outside boxes...but I've made some "boards" that fit me.
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