Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

No More Faxing That Prayer to the Western Wall
Friday, January 26, 2007

When I was growing up, I heard stories about how anyone could fax a prayer to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. That's so 1979. Today, in a Web 2.0 world, you can send your prayer via a new service called Pray Over IP (IP standing for Internet protocol). POIP sells phone cards that allow customers to record their prayers, which are then transmitted to a holy site of their choice via Internet phone and Webcams. Reports the WSJ:

"It's just $5 or $10, and you get eternal life," says Hanan Achsaf, chairman of POIP. "With the lottery, you pay that amount, and what do you get? A piece of paper. This is much better value."
The start-up is part of an explosion of technology being used for religious purposes in recent years.
Churches in Brazil offer audio clips of services through cellphones. Ringtones using religious music are gaining popularity. A survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that 30% of adults online use the Internet for their religious pursuits.
Mr. Achsaf's company, which estimates it has 1,500 users a day, sells its phone cards on two Web sites -- one for Christians and the other for Jewish users. The sites stream video from the company's Webcams, giving users a real-time look at where the prayers are broadcast. A user records his prayer by using a POIP phone card, which allows a prayer of as long as two minutes. After calling a POIP phone number (1-888-HE-HEARS in the U.S.) and inputting a personal-identification number from the card, the user gets a choice: press one for the holy site of Jerusalem, press two for the holy site of the Sea of Galilee, and so on.

Two-thirds of the prayers come from the U.S.

Labels: Middle East

Posted by B Feiler at 2:01 PM
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1 Comments:

MICHAEL said...: About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].

Peace Be With You
Micky; May 11, 2007 1:24:00 PM EDT