Myra Adams writes a well-reasoned critique of Mark Zuckerberg’s religious worldview. Adams believes that Zuckerberg is drifting into “Tower of Babel territory” with some of his recent proclamations.
Adams writes for World Net Daily:
“Facebook’s current global reach of 2 billion users signifies a powerful growing force that is now officially being harnessed to “bring the world closer together.” But Zuckerberg lamented that because only 100 million Facebook users have joined “meaningful communities” within Facebook, his new goal is “1 billion.” (Of course, “meaningful” is whatever issue, concern, event, or thing that is meaningful to you and your group.)
Changing a corporate mission statement is no small matter for a public company. Therefore, re-engineering Facebook so users will be “empowered” to build meaningful communities took much thought and planning.
However, Zuckerberg might have ventured into Tower of Babel territory when he said:
“We all get meaning from our communities. Whether they’re churches, sports teams, or neighborhood groups, they give us the strength to expand our horizons and care about broader issues. Studies have proven the more connected we are, the happier we feel and the healthier we are. People who go to church are more likely to volunteer and give to charity – not just because they’re religious, but because they’re part of a community.
“That’s why it’s so striking that for decades, membership in all kinds of groups has declined as much as one-quarter. That’s a lot of people who now need to find a sense of purpose and support somewhere else.
“This is our challenge. We have to build a world where everyone has a sense of purpose and community. That’s how we’ll bring the world closer together. ”
But Adams is not impressed by Zuckerberg’s religious overtures. She continues:
“Read the Tower of Babel story now. Surely, you will recognize Facebook as the “tower” in your new mission statement to “bring the world closer.” How about building the tower “so that we may make a name for ourselves,” as stated in verse 4? Does that sound any alarms? If not, consider your statement: “We have to build a world where everyone has a sense of purpose and community.” Doesn’t that negate mankind’s ultimate purpose – to love God and to love and serve one another? Moreover, achieving a lasting “sense of purpose” requires believing in something far greater than Facebook connections. It requires belief in the most powerful force in the universe – God the Creator – the source of all love and life. Fortunately, no Facebook app is needed to communicate with Him!
Mark, after reading about the Tower of Babel, you might want to consult God about Facebook’s new mission. Have you thought about God’s role in “bringing the world closer”? Seeking answers could be a continuation of your evolving religious beliefs prompting the Washington Post headline:
“Mark Zuckerberg says he’s no longer an atheist, believes ‘religion is very important.’”
