By Elena Larsen A \u201cWebscape\u201d of examples for this section can be found at: This paper examines the many ways religious groups addressed the crisis of September 11 on their Web sites.\u00a0 Denominational sites were chosen to represent religious sites since they provide resources to clergy and congregant alike.\u00a0 In all, the faiths of over 100 million Americans are represented in the sites included in this study.<\/p>\n\n Religious organizations touch the lives of nearly nine of every ten Americans.[51.numoffset=”51″ http:\/\/www.adherents.com\/rel_USA.html<\/a> – religions] \u00a0In the wake of the September 11 attacks, as people clung to their sets awaiting precious drops of information, religious offices and clergy stepped up into their own roles.\u00a0 They had to provide the strength to help people withstand the shock and horror of what had happened.\u00a0 They had to support victims, members, and community leadership.\u00a0 They sought to direct anger and fear away from thought of indiscriminate revenge and toward rebuilding the lives that had been shattered.\u00a0 They were faced with the hardest questions, ones not pressed upon the government or the press. Where was God?\u00a0 How could such evil be allowed?\u00a0 Why NOT seek the harshest vengeance?<\/p>\n\n To meet these needs, churches and temples opened their doors to offer water and phones to people fleeing Ground Zero.\u00a0 Around the country, they kept their doors open for all-night vigils.\u00a0 They checked on members.\u00a0 Many denominations used their web sites to address these urgent needs and questions.\u00a0 This paper examines the many ways religious groups addressed the crisis on their Web sites.<\/p>\n\n Note:<\/strong> This paper does not attempt to evaluate the response of various denominations to September 11 according to their Internet actions.\u00a0 Some denominations rely far more on the Internet than do others, and incorporate more features into their Web sites.\u00a0 The fact that one denomination may have addressed more needs online than another does NOT mean that it was more responsive to the needs of its members.\u00a0 Different denominations have different organizational structures for their own governance, and their own ways of handling crises within their communities.\u00a0 The Internet is just one of many tools they use.<\/p>\n\n For this study, sites were that reflected communal, rather than individual, responses. Thus, religiously-oriented Web sites created by individuals are not included. Nor are Web sites created by individual churches.\u00a0 The Pew Internet & American Life Project, in its study of congregational Web sites (\u201cWired Churches, Wired Temples\u201d\u00a0 (https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/reports\/toc.asp?Report=28<\/a>) found that congregations overwhelmingly rely on volunteers to maintain their sites, and have difficulty keeping them up to date.\u00a0 In view of those findings, it seemed unlikely that individual congregations would employ their Web sites in their response to the September 11 events. <\/p>\n\n Denominational offices, however, provide resources to clergy and congregant alike.\u00a0 They have their own organizations for relief efforts, and connections with international organizations that often provide information to their own press services.\u00a0 The best organized can provide an alternative voice to government and commercial media, and deliver resources available quickly from no other source.\u00a0 Therefore, denominational sites were chosen.[52.numoffset=”52″ Note: I use the word \u201cdenomination\u201d in a sense broader than its application to Christian groups. Rather, I use it in terms of an organization to which communities of worshipers, or congregations, see as a parent organization. Thus, the Nation of Islam web site is classed as a denominational site because it represents Nation of Islam communities across the country.]<\/p>\n\n There are literally scores, perhaps hundreds, of Christian denominations in the United States.\u00a0 By no means do all of them have denominational Web sites. The sites here are those of denominations with membership of over 500,000, as identified by the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (http:\/\/www.gc.cuny.edu\/studies\/aris_index.htm<\/a>).\u00a0 In addition, the sample included sites that represented Judaism, Islam, Unitarian Universalism, and earth-centered religions in the United States.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n The impressions of the chosen sites appeared in the weeks and months after September 11, 2001.\u00a0 The archive did not have readable impressions available for all denominations.\u00a0 In all, the faiths of over 100 million Americans are represented in the sites included in this study.[53. Even so, there are several religious groups that are significant in number but not represented. At least 2.5 million Americans are non-denominational Christians, who do not have a single \u201cdenominational\u201d site to attend their needs as a group. Also, this sample does not account for religious fringe groups with hate agendas.]\u00a0 The denominations include: Roman Catholic, United Methodist, Lutheran (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod), Pentecostal, Episcopal, Judaism, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, United Church of Christ, Islam (including Nation of Islam), Seventh-Day Adventist, Eastern Orthodox, Assemblies of God, Unitarian Universalist, Church of the Nazarene, and Wiccan\/Pagan\/Druid.<\/p>\n\n Of the 22 Web sites reviewed, all had some degree of content reflecting the attacks in the weeks following September 11. On some sites, references to the attacks were minimal.\u00a0 The Web site for the Church of Latter Day Saints, for instance, primarily referenced the national memorial service it held on September 14, 2001.\u00a0 The producers of other denominational sites created These dedicated sections addressed a variety of purposes, from meeting the material needs of victims and families to the psychological needs of members throughout the country.\u00a0 The following sections describe how denominations used their sites to respond to these needs. <\/p>\n\n The most common needs addressed on the 22 denominational sites reviewed were the physical and financial needs of Notably, all the relief funds were denominationally operated; none, for example, linked potential contributors to the Red Cross.\u00a0 The denominations already had in place the structure to collect and administer relief funds, so they could quickly respond to the financial needs engendered by the attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n Perhaps the most sophisticated Internet-enabled relief strategy was that shown on the Assemblies of God Web site.\u00a0 It allowed visitors to register on an inter-denominational database for volunteers willing to provide long-term relief.\u00a0 \u201cThe immediate outpouring of support since Tuesday, September 11, 2001, has produced more short-term volunteers than the relief efforts can handle. Our goal is to establish a long-term strategy, support network and recovery program in the months, even years to come.\u201d (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011012112248\/www.ag.org\/top\/operation_hope\/volunteer_db_instructions.cfm<\/a>)\u00a0 The volunteer form allowed individuals to offer their professional skills as clergy, construction workers, medical workers, counselors and social workers, computer programmers or Web designers, lawyers or accountants.\u00a0 Those without a profession could offer prayer support, foster care, office assistance, or other services.\u00a0 Volunteers could also note how much notice they needed before they could appear to serve, and the time period in which they could serve.<\/p>\n\n Never in our worst nightmares did we imagine that we would be witnessing such a horrendous event and human tragedy inflicted on our American friends. We care for every life and we pray for all those who are mourning the loss of loved ones taken away by this indiscriminate act of organized terror. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.<\/i> <\/p>\n\n Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb<\/i> We forcefully denounce this inhuman and unjustified action, and we join our sufferings with the American people. On behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, ordained and lay, we assure the President, the government and the people of the United States of our ceaseless prayers, calling upon Almighty God to comfort the hearts of the bereaved for the loss of their dear ones, and beseeching Him to heal all the injured in body, mind or-spirit. <\/i> <\/p>\n\n RT. Rev. Riah Aby El-Asel<\/i> After providing an outlet for members to help others, denominations used their Web sites to respond to the needs of members themselves.\u00a0 Pastoral letters of concern, comfort, and hope appeared on almost all of the major denominational Web sites.\u00a0 Traditionally, such letters are often read in the congregational setting, and many probably were.\u00a0 But denominational leaders used their sites not only to send their own letters directly to their members, but to pass on messages from clergy and churches around the world.\u00a0 The two letters shown above, selected especially for coming from the Middle East, are just a few of many that were linked to the American Baptist Web site (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011009232933\/http:\/\/www.abc-usa.org\/<\/a>).\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n And help went beyond words of condolence.\u00a0 The most extensive collections of links available on the denominational sites sought to provide spiritual and emotional assistance to members dealing with the aftermath of the attacks.\u00a0 Many of these resources were religious in nature.\u00a0 Prayers, hymns, and liturgies were provided to help shaken communities come together to pray and seek comfort and guidance.\u00a0 Links to scriptural texts were made to help people understand and reassure themselves about the promises of God. <\/p>\n\n In addition, the denominational sites provided copious resources from psychologists, educators, and government agencies to help people cope with fear and stress, and to provide practical advice on emergency preparedness.\u00a0 In particular, they provided material to help parents talk to and comfort their children.\u00a0 Denominational sites also provided resources to clergy who might be facing unprecedented demands from their congregations.\u00a0 The United Church of Christ was unique in providing material to help people care for families coping with financial crises that may have arisen after the attacks (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011117004534\/www.ucc.org\/911\/mailing10.pdf<\/a>).\u00a0 Some denominational sites addressed the mixed set of needs experienced by members, providing counseling resources while encouraging individuals to remain active in and draw spiritual strength from their own congregations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n The attacks underscored Americans\u2019 general ignorance about Islam, and reinforced the worst stereotypes held by many.\u00a0 The Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist, Greek Orthodox, and United Church of Christ Web sites all provided linked sections where visitors could get a brief introduction to Islam.\u00a0 Generally, the content on these sections emphasized that Islam is a religion of peace and submission to Allah.\u00a0 They also pointed out that it venerates Jesus among its prophets.\u00a0 A few had a special section on the meaning of jihad, all of which rejected its interpretation as a call to armed warfare.<\/p>\n\n Islam.org also provided visitors with an introduction to the tenets of its faith.\u00a0 Its front page, on September 16, included a section on building better relations between Christians and Muslims.\u00a0 \u201cWith over 1 billion followers each, Islam and Christianity are major religions that influence the thinking and values of over 40% of the World population. There is sufficient common ground for Muslims and Christians to understand each other and move together in the Path of Truth, Peace and Justice.\u201d (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20010916222047\/http:\/\/islam.org\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n These same organizations, along with some others, used their sites to encourage members to support Muslims in their own communities.\u00a0 The Union of American Hebrew Congregations expressed outrage at attacks on Arab and Muslim Americans on their site (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011031214334\/uahc.org\/pr\/2001\/010913.html<\/a>).\u00a0 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America provided on their Web site a help sheet for discussing Islam with youth (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011114132958\/www.elca.org\/dcm\/youth\/resource\/helpsheets\/muslim.html<\/a>) and a sample letter of solidarity that congregations could send to local mosques (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011120111503\/www.elca.org\/dcs\/disaster\/solidarity.pdf<\/a>). The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) urged support also for Sikhs, who were likely to be targeted by angry Americans simply because they wear headdresses. Their site (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20010919215905\/www.uua.org\/uuawo\/alerts\/reachingout.html<\/a>) included a section entitled \u201cFour Ways to Support Muslims and Arab Americans\u201d \u2013 one of those ways being to be a voice of reason in Internet chat rooms where other participants were calling for violent response.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,[54.numoffset=”54″ http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011120103803\/www.elca.org\/dgm\/disaster\/afghan2.html<\/a>] United Methodist Church,[55. http:\/\/gbgm-umc.org\/umcor\/loveupdate\/afghan.stm<\/a>] Islam.org,[56. http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011013210840\/www.islamicity.com\/contribute\/afghanistan\/<\/a>] United Church of Christ,[57. http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011117014827\/www.ucc.org\/disaster\/d110201b.htm<\/a>] and American Baptist Churches[58. http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011020052442\/www.abc-oghs.org\/world_relief_news.htm<\/a>] all promoted funds to help Afghan citizens affected by years of hardship and the American-led war.<\/p>\n\n Leaders of religious groups faced some of the thorniest questions in the aftermath of September 11 \u2013 arguably tougher even than those addressed to the U.S. government.\u00a0 Questions that, for many, had been mere theological discussions, such as why does God permit evil, became pained cries. Furthermore, though religious frameworks were often used to call for \u201cjustice\u201d and not \u201cvengeance,\u201d many could not see what \u201cjustice\u201d for such horrific acts would be.\u00a0 What \u201cjust\u201d response could atone for the brutal murder of thousands of innocents?\u00a0 Where was God when this was happening, and would He passively sit by and let this happen again?<\/p>\n\n Such questions were not addressed substantively by the denominations on their Web sites. <\/p>\n\n Within days of the attacks, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson aroused fury across the nation by blaming gays, lesbians, pagans, feminists, abortionists, the ACLU, and the federal courts (among others) for removing God\u2019s protection from the country, and allowing the attacks to occur.\u00a0 The backlash was immediate from both President Bush and the press.\u00a0 Only one of the denominational sites reviewed, the Seventh Day Adventists\u2019, posted a direct rebuttal asserting that the attacks were not God\u2019s punishment (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011017101555\/www.adventist.org\/news\/data\/2001\/08\/1000824576\/index.html.en<\/a>).\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n This statement was the closest any of the 22 denominational sites came to providing a direct explanation for the attacks.\u00a0 They were more likely to address the question of evil generally, and to accept its existence as an unavoidable component of a free-will world.\u00a0 But they also see the opportunity for people to use their free will to let God\u2019s will rise even in horrendous tragedy.\u00a0 The firemen, policeman, and volunteers who arrived from all over the country to help their fellow citizens were shown as the face of God in the crisis.<\/p>\n\n Without a solid framework explaining evil, the sites were generally also vague about the proper U.S. policy response.\u00a0 While individuals were offered the opportunity to help those who had been hurt, there was little offered to guide them in their contemplations of the proper response to the attackers.<\/p>\n\n The United Church of Christ site linked to an article \u201cIs there a theological response to terrorism?\u201d (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011117011125\/www.ucc.org\/911\/092101a.htm<\/a>) that discussed religious thought on dealing with violent aggressors.\u00a0 It outlined Christian, Jewish, and Muslim theologies of war.\u00a0 The minister Louis Farrakhan, in his address posted on the Nation of Islam home page, noted that both Christianity and Islam have rules on \u201cjust war,\u201d that lay out permissible causes of and conduct for warfare.\u00a0 A few of the denominational sites essentially appealed to the just war tradition when they reluctantly agreed that military action would be needed against in order to save innocent lives from further terrorist attacks.\u00a0 They generally appealed to the President to limit military attacks and minimize casualties among innocent civilians.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n A more common theme among the sites was a call for justice rather than war.\u00a0 But few of the sites elucidated that theme to help an angry populace understand what it would mean. Many people wondered if the hijackers were already dead, what justice could be afforded?<\/p>\n\n The United Methodist Web site provided uniquely well-organized assistance in this regard.\u00a0 Its page on official denominational statements, linked to its September 11 pages, provides a long list of principles including those on war, terrorism, and justice (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20010926212323\/infoserv.umc.org\/faq\/nationaltragedypage2.htm<\/a>).\u00a0 An essay on Restorative Justice, for example, promotes of vision of justice that focuses on healing communities rather than merely punishing wrongdoers.\u00a0 While the essay was written well before the events of September 11, it provides the groundwork for seeking a justice other than war.\u00a0 One of its mandates is that the nation examine itself critically to understand what actions it had taken to ground violent emotion against it.\u00a0 However, the principles are worded in general terms, and do not actively call people together for reflection and action.<\/p>\n\n
Research fellow, Pew Internet & American Life Project <\/em> <\/p>\n\n
http:\/\/september11.archive.org\/webscape\/lar\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/del>the immediate victims of the attacks and their families.\u00a0 Notably, the denominations already had their own standing relief mechanisms in place, so were able to organize their own relief efforts.\u00a0 Thus, none linked potential contributors to the Red Cross.\u00a0 <\/li>\nBackground<\/h3>\n\n
Research sample<\/h3>\n\n
Including September 11 content<\/h3>\n\n
\u00a0<\/del>entire sections devoted to September 11 and maintained relevant resource links for months, often using striking graphics to keep links to those sections visible.\u00a0 Just one example can be seen at archived sites of the Episcopal Church in the USA, at http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20010923004842\/http:\/\/ecusa.anglican.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nHelping the people of New York and Washington<\/h3>\n\n
\u00a0<\/del>the immediate victims of the attacks and their families.\u00a0 Fourteen sites told viewers where they could send money to help with relief efforts.\u00a0 In addition, the United Methodist Church announced on its site a separate scholarship fund started for dependents of victims (http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20011009030543\/umc.org\/usattack\/<\/a>). The sites of the United Church of Christ and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations had the capacity to accept electronic donations, a feature generally absent from most denominational sites.<\/p>\n\nCoping after the crisis<\/h3>\n\n
Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem<\/i>
Palestine<\/i> <\/p>\n\n
Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem<\/i><\/p>\n\nUnderstanding Islam<\/h3>\n\n
Understanding and response<\/h3>\n\n