Please help us in congratulating this year's essay contest winners.  These campers won certificates and scholarships for their essaays on how technology can impact their relationship with God.  Click on Read More to read the essays' they wrote.

Zoe Gabor- 6th Grade -Mary Conairis scholarship winner

 Ally Labine- 11th Grade -James Zubalake scholarship winner

How Technology Brings Us Closer and Farther Away from God

 By Zoe Gabor- St. Mary’s Greek

Does technology bring us closer or farther away from God? In this essay I will talk about different electronics and tell about how they can bring us closer or farther away from God. I hope you will learn how to use the electronics the right way so we all can be closer to God.

  I-pods are a great music device. They can bring us farther from God because we listen to music and some of it can use bad words or give a bad message against God and it can prevent us from praying. I-pods can bring us closer to God because we can put recordings of church music on them and pray to have God always with us.

  Cell phones can bring us farther away from God because we can text while in church instead of focusing on God and the liturgy. They also make you pay not as much attention God and your family if you’re always on the phone. Cell phones can be good because you can type prays in the note section you want to remember and can carry them with you.

 Computers are everywhere today. They can bring us farther from God because we see and read bad things about God, people and faith on the internet. They keep us from connecting with God and Christian friends if we spend all our free time on the computers surfing the web. But it can be good because you can connect with friends (like camp friends) who also believe in God and can talk about him. You can goggle facts about the saints and special holy days and places to learn more about them.

Technology has positives and negatives related to our relationship with God. You should use these electronics the right way so you can have a closer relationship with him.

Camp Essay 2010

By Ally Labine- St. Mary's OCA

            Technology has always been a part of my life in some way. From monitoring my heartbeat as an infant to writing this essay, technology has slowly evolved into an everyday necessity. The most important everyday necessity however is God, and I believe that there are ways that technology can bring us closer to and farther away from Him.

When used correctly and for the right reasons, technology can work wonders in strengthening our relationship with God. In some ways technology can make it easier to spend time with God. For example, the Bible can be read anywhere because of the numerous applications and websites that provide it. God’s Scripture can truly be read anywhere! Websites also offer many opportunities to give to those truly in need in places that would be difficult to go to. The OCA even has a website, making communication and information about the Orthodox Church available to everyone.

I-Pods and music applications can be used for listening to songs of worship and praise to God, which can help to focus our minds toward Him when doing everyday things such as working out, doing homework, or cleaning. 

            Technology can also encourage us to act as disciples of God. Cell phones can be used for calling to a sick, lonely, or elderly person to make their day brighter. Or perhaps using an e-mail account for communicating with those who have no one to talk to. I believe that when we strive to be God’s humble disciple, the relationship with him becomes stronger.

Although technology can be used to strengthen our relationship with God, it can also give opportunities that result in separation from Him. Many people are so preoccupied with the joys of technology, such as music, television, communication, and media that they forget about how it can bring them farther away from God.

            If computers and MP3 players are used to listen to foul, harsh, and discriminating music, attention that should be paid towards God is now pushed in Satan’s direction, making it hard to get back on track towards God. Technology also provides many opportunities to view insulting and (bad) materials, including pornography. Again, destroying morals and breaking the bond with God by moving towards Satan.

            Technology can also offer unnecessary distractions that can prevent us from connecting with God. Distractions such as texting friends, playing violent video games, listening to foul music, or Facebook can cause us to think about ourselves more and God less. These devises can use up the time that should be used going to church, praying, and reading the Bible, and could eventually cause us to forget about our relationship with God.

            Although the use of technology can help strengthen our relationship with God, over use or misuse of it can result in a gradual pull away from Him. I believe that it is vital to do everything possible that brings God closer to us, and in order to do that we need to be aware of how every use of technology can effect that sacred relationship.