Should religious groups be allowed to target you for conversion based on your personal information, the same way advertisers target you with ads for new shoes?
If you've spent any time on social media, you've likely received personalized ads – a marketing tactic based on data that advertisers have collected about you.
Ads can be targeted down to the most micro of micro-niches, everything from your age, race, religion, location, sex, interests, and spending habits can be used by advertisers to more efficiently target ads at you.
Now, evangelical groups are capitalizing on the same technology to identify people most likely to be open to hearing messages about faith. Except they're not just showing ads on social media, they're also knocking on doors in person.
To guide these efforts, missionaries are using an app called “Bless Every Home,” which has sophisticated targeting technology to help users pray for and locate neighbors who may be vulnerable to a possible conversion.
While some celebrate the new tool as a revolutionary way to spread Jesus's teachings, privacy experts and other critics are raising the alarm – calling it a serious infringement on personal privacy.
Digital Missionaries
Bless Every Home's stated mission is to turn the homes of Christian app users into thousands of micro-mission outposts, converting Americans to Christianity one neighborhood at a time.
“Bless Every Home gives you and your church the tools to get to know your local community by name, and to bless the lives of those around you by praying for, caring for and sharing the Gospel with them,” the company's website reads.
Using 50 different commercially available sources, Bless Every Home has a comprehensive dataset on millions of Americans, available for app users to use as they will to pray for or convert their neighbors.
Users can filter from everything from their neighbors’ religions, ethnicities, and even whether there are children present in their homes.
They can also leave publicly viewable notes on households in their neighborhood, documenting anything they may want other app users to know, so they know what to pray on for that home – or potentially, how to more efficiently target them for conversion.
"Shooting Fish in a Barrel"
This technology appears to be incredibly effective – and a training video obtained by The New Republic indicates just how powerful that information can be.
In the video, an evangelical group explains that Houston suburbs with large Muslim populations are particularly ripe for evangelism, calling it “shooting fish in a barrel."
Later on, the leader of a large missionary network in Texas gives tips on how to use to app. He urges users to take advantage of the shared note-taking function and suggests they leave notes for every household in their community, such as “Daughter left for college” and “Mother is in the hospital.”
Other reports indicate that new immigrant populations are particular targets for conversion, and can also be easily flagged in the app.
He Gets Sus
With the knowledge available on the app, individual users and churches could be more effective than ever before at recruiting converts to their local church.
Whether sending religious tracts through the mail, or evangelizing face-to-face at their front door, missionaries will have a much better idea of who they're speaking to and how best to target their messaging.
The app is funded in part by Gloo, which also helped fund the controversial $100M dollar He Gets Us marketing campaign for Jesus. Gloo, a controversial Christian data harvesting firm, has previously come under fire for sending targeted Christianity-themed ads to individuals who searched for help with depression, anxiety, or grief.
The "He Gets Us" Reddit account was recently briefly banned, possibly for its connection to the data harvesting going on at Gloo and Bless Every Home.
Spy on Thy Neighbor?
This balance between allowing religious groups to use technology and protecting personal privacy is a tenuous one.
Bless Every Home appears to be able to arm missionaries in a neighborhood with incredibly specific demographic information about the families around them – info that is generally only available to large companies collecting marketing data.
It also enables its users to make detailed notes about households in their community, which they see as a tool for boosting conversion rates. App users praise these features, allowing them to custom tailor their pitch for Christianity to each individual.
Critics, on the other hand, say it simply goes too far and amounts to a gross invasion of privacy.
They think religious organizations should not have access to that type of personal information about people in their communities – much less use it to target people they see as "vulnerable" to join their religion. Critics ask: how can that be ethical?
What do you make of the Bless Every Home app? Religious outreach entering the 21st century, or massive privacy violation?
79 comments
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Pamela Kay Waters
People need to mind their own business. This world is out of control
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Danny D. Maynard
"Predatory Religion" is a bad thing!
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Brien
I agree. All religion is predatory. I believe they call it "converting".
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Ahhh, a kindred….. Almost used the idiomatic phrase!!
Ahhh, another person that can tell a pizza from a cowpie!
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Brien
Yes Dr. I follow like minded posts such as you and Lionheart. It gives me great relief to know that there are others who have managed to over come the mythical brainwashing. I hope that one day mankind starts believing in itself instead of the violent fairy tales they believe in now. Peace✌
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Colleen McAllister
Whether or not this app is an invasion of privacy, it is in direct opposition to Christan evangelism. True evangelism is to simply share our belief with everyone - not to target specifically. The leading of the Holy Spirit is all that we need to reach out.
As to this app using personal information, the information is available to anyone with internet access. Illegal, no. Unethical, yes. For whatever purpose from advertising to politics to religion we need to realize that information is no longer private.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Naw, you target non-believers. If you happen to knock-knock on a xtian door you’ll chew the fat, praise cheeses and move along. Your demographic involves Unbelievers. Those are the target ‘share group’. Keep your nonsense to yourself. Your knock-knocks are an annoyance.
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ServantOfJudgement
Please don't tell the Jehovah's Witnesses about this app. Please don't.
Use of the app is intrusive, offensive and poor form. President Obama once said Americans have no reasonable explanation of privacy. I Do.
Our culture forces people to do things they don't want to do just to stay alive and current with society. No body wants to buy junk from the slave nation of China but we do. Nobody wants to sign all their digital rights away to have a phone but we do.
Christians should stay away from the mob of identity mining.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
@SOJ
Agree with you here. I treat the couple of xtians per year the same as salesmen.
To salesmen: 営業ですか？ Sales? To xtian salesmen: キリストですか Christ?
My response, which I din’t know how to ‘spell’ in Japanese, is the same for both…Naw, I’m okay, I don’t need it, it’s okay.
I used to be rude about it and my wife always scolded me. After some thought I’ve toned back the response to the Jesus freaks to as close to being friendly about the refusal as I can get.
You see, the door knockers here are a different sort. Almost always these nice enough, middle to late-middle aged women, dressed up just enough to be polite, and this ‘look’ on their faces. They’re Japanese, so they know this is not generally cool, but hey, Jesus, and more importantly ‘THEIR GROUP’ says this gotta’ be done. Once you live here long enough you recognize the body language that asks for forgiveness. And they’re nice old ladies. And noticeable irritation on my part will leave them visibly shocked. Of course another grouping involves what appears to be a younger housewife in training. In these cases the younger leads off with the older ones doing the head-bow to preemptively ward off annoyance at the intrusion. PLUS when you hit them with キリストですか (literally ‘Is this Christ?’) they don’t lie or try to dodge the question. So I give them the very casual head-bow that, even in Japan, has a dismissive ‘Sorry, but you’re a pain in the ***’ scent to it, and allow the door to close. And all this is done from about 15’ away because they don't enter the gate.
Salesmen may get a slightly more dismissive head-bow if they are honest with their first response. But some will try to split hairs and not consider themselves salesmen, just a representative that is excited to give you an opportunity to improve the most honorable quality of your healthy human life. These get an extremely abbreviated head-bow and nothing but a dismissive wave of the hand.
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Asa William Sprague, II
"President Obama once said Americans have no reasonable explanation of privacy."
Please tell us when President Obama made that statement. I can't find that quote when I search for it.
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ServantOfJudgement
Asa, it was during a speech he gave during his presidency.
Don't misunderstand my pointing out what our president said as an attack on him. Almost all of our officials have a shared responsibility in bringing us to this point, including all presidents in my lifetime. There are no exceptions, all have gotten us here.
Our expectations of privacy have been legislated away from every last one of us by our favorite politicians.
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Michael Hunt
That was not said in a speech made by Obama. It was from a ruling in a court case Smith v. Obama. "In Smith v Obama, the lower court held that the NSA Metadata collection does not violate the Fourth Amendment because the Supreme Court held in Smith v. Maryland that individuals have no reasonable expectation of privacy in their cell phone records held by phone companies." https://epic.org/documents/smith-v-obama/
The ruling is specific to cell phone records held by cell phone companies, essentially allowing law enforcement to obtain these records from the companies. It's very much not Obama saying Americans have no reasonable expectation of privacy in our lives.
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ServantOfJudgement
Michael,
Speech, court case, who cares? At the end President Obama used government tools to spy on Americans.
When the president eats apples he's saying 'i like apples'. When the president spys on Americans he's saying 'americans have no expectation of privacy'.
Who won the court case? The citizen or Obama's NSA agency?
Diehard loyalist just aren't able to see what they're doing. They just can't see reality.
Obamite=Trumpoid.
Keep defending your rotten apples as they rummage through your underwear drawer.
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Asa William Sprague, II
"it was during a speech he gave during his presidency."
Oh. So you don't know which speech it was. SMH
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ServantOfJudgement
Lol, no Asa I don't know the speech, do they have serial numbers? I'm not in the habit of documenting the multitude of political speeches I hear.
Diehard loyalists will glaze over the brown spots of their favorite rotten apple. If you even hint that there's a brown spot on their so called immaculate apple they'll go off the rails rather than acknowledge the spot of rot.
For some reason Obamites can see this flaw in Trumpoids and Trumpoids can see it in Obamites but neither can see it in themselves.
The real question at hand Asa is do you have a reasonable explanation of privacy, yes or no?
If no then you agree with president Obama. If yes then you're like me and you disagree with president Obama along with Bush, Clinton, Bush and Trump.Cut your leash and walk free.
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Asa William Sprague, II
Why yes, I do have a reasonable explanation of privacy: Privacy is the right to be let alone, or be free from interference or intrusion.
I find it LOL funny that you talk about people glazing over the brown spots on their favorite rotten apples when you're here offering misquotes in an attempt to make a point. FYI - Obama never used the term "explanation of privacy" in a speech.
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ServantOfJudgement
Asa,
Please accept my fullest and most sincere apology. I now realize that your apple is in deed shiny and flawless. It's also beautiful to look at and behold. If we could award the nobel peace prizes to apples, yours would be sure to get one, even before it was plucked from it's perfect tree. Even before it was examined it would receive the prize.
What a beautiful and flawless apple you have.
Get some more glaze.
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Asa William Sprague, II
Your words make clear that your apology is far from sincere.
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Rev. Rory
Asa, you do mean "expectation" not "explanation", correct? I understand a typo, but you've said it more than once. Perhaps I misunderstood.
As far as privacy is concerned, I think it is fair to say that most people using a cell phone, a tablet, a computer, walk in a mall or grocery store, go to a sporting event, ride a subway, etc. are at the least on camera, tracked, and in some cases we are audio recorded. I can "expect" privacy" but I know it is limited.
Yes, we all want to be left alone, free from intrusion. State laws passed during the last few years have taken that away in many places - what medical services we can receive and where, what books we can read, our lack of safety in a house of worship or a concert, our exposure to communicable diseases. Yes, we all want to be free.
Everyone should be free, not just some of us. The most dangerous among us unfortunately should not be free until they are no longer a danger to themselves and society.
Everyone should be free to worship as they wish, without interference in this country. I am not afraid of pamphlets or someone asking if they can tell me about their religion, as long as I am free to walk away if I wish to do so. That is why the push by some for a single national religion (General Flynn advocates for this) is against what Americans are supposed to stand for - freedom of religion. What happens to all of the people that have a different religion?
Peace to you and yours.
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Asa William Sprague, II
Rev. Rory,
Please note that all my comments werre in response to SoJ. Everytime I used the word "explanation" it was in the hope that SoJ might realize he had used the wrong word to start with. He did not seem to notice, nor did he care.
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Daman Shawn Gareau
Obamas view on privacy can be found in supported legislation
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/01/12/president-announces-new-actions-protect-americans-privacy-and-identity#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20we%20believe%20that,the%20right%20to%20have%20your
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ServantOfJudgement
I do enjoy the red faced true believer's feverish attempts to keep their rotten apple shiny Daman.
How nice of Trump/Obama is to keep our personal information from the hands of corporations. What nice presidents.
Except they don't. Not only do employers get to rummage through your medical records, so do over 20 government agencies.
The government can, will and does spy on Americans. It requests(demands)personal information from corporations then gets it.
One president builds the surveillance system for the next. Always building up, never dimishing, not ever.
The current shiny apple you keep polishing says if you believe human rights comes from God like our declaration of Independence says, then you're a terrorist that needs to be monitored.
Let me know if I'm saying this frothy mouthed, spittle throwing chant right....
Trump/Obama! Obama/Trump! Long live Trumbama!!!!
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Brien
SOJ, You're right. You're so right that I... agree with you. I am very confused right now 🤔
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Alexander Arends
This type of invasion of your privacy should be outlawed, but as long as it is legal for commercial enterprises, it should be legal for religious institutions and non profits. Best advise would be to use your cell phone only for making and accepting phone calls to and from pre-approved numbers and nothing else.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Just when you thought Christians couldn't get more sinister.
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Mark Hannon
I have often wondered why people that are concerned with privacy will still use a cell phone to scan QR codes on a whim. Even scanning religious nationalist advertisements or companies with unknown background.
Can you really tell what the information in that QR code holds? It takes you to websites and adds apps or devices and we just trust it to be benign.
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Tawnya Jean Luke
These Christian fascists and Christian nationalists have constantly accused the LGBTQ+ community of a gay agenda and banned drag queens from libraries and community outreach programs accusing them of grooming and being predators. Imagine this much maligned group using the same technology as the church for furthering the imaginary "gay agenda". Meanwhile, churches harbor and protect real predators and abusers. Can you imagine the "notes section" of this app? '3 children, 1 male, 2 female under age 7'. What a helping tool to further the gospel of predators!
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Evone Payton Banks (Minister non denominational)
Based on the apps purpose written here. I would say that it is wrong. Not everyone has the freedom of being themselves as it is; let alone having to targeted through an app by people looking to convert you into a way that changes by definition and books. Before I say with certainty I'd have to look into the apps origins a little further. For Christians I think it would be a great app to find congregation and gather in God's name.. but misuse would be direct disrespect unto THE MOST HIGH GOD. As no faith or way or religion is supposed to force you. Cults force you. GOD doesn't have a set religion or way.. HE... just us.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Praise cheeses! Cheeses…just us.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
So far, I have had zero experience with anyone contacting me or anyone I know trying to influence my religious preference. Hope they don't, or they will get an earful from me. Terrible invasion of privacy. The Baptists a couple of doors down leave a calendar every December but that is my only contact with them, which is OK although I don't use their calendar. Commercial ads are gross enough and seldom to never offer anything I want or need anyway. The paper ones go straight to the recycle bin. I really HATE being marketed at--a waste of paper/electricity/time/whatever. Pisses me off.
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Nathaniel Joseph Merritt
Good luck trying to convert an old man such as myself. We old folks are fairly set in our ways. Thankfully mine are Far Eastern Nondual, progressive, inclusive, and scientific. I would enjoy running the folks (who use this app) in circles.
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Amber Fry
No. In fact I don't think advertisers should be either. It's become outrageous how intrusive both have been.
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Danny D. Maynard
If this app is putting those "old time religion" technique called "putting a person under conviction". Either you heel and succumb to the daily religious pressure, or they drive you out of town, literally!
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Rev. Robert
All organized religions are really after the same thing as the commercial vendors tracking your buying habits…your money!
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William Lewis Vass
You hit the nail on the head with one simple word... Money! Most religions use fear tactics and brow beating to get you in their clutches. Once there you're groomed to obey them, which brings us full circle back to, you guessed it, money.
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Danny D. Maynard
This app is putting those "old time religion" techniques called "putting a person under conviction". Either you heel and succumb to the daily religious pressure, or they drive you out of town, literally!
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James Mounts
The most effective evangelism is to be a good example. Coercive bible thumping is usually counter productive, especially if it follows an uninvited knock on the door at dinner time. As for invasion of privacy, there is no right to privacy in the Constitution. That is something you have to protect yourself. If you agree to give away your data, don't then complain when it is collected and used.
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James Weeder
Back in the 90's I asked a computer hacker how to protect myself. He said "unplug the computer" Well now in this age we unfortnally do this. Our TV can monitor us through the modem that connects us to the channels that we want to watch. Our phones see where we are and what we are doing. I don't the do not call list will do us a bit of good. So I guess the only thing we can do is politely tell them no. Or just tell them you are an emmassary of the devil (kidding!). Since the genie was let out of the bag decades ago we have no privacy left unless we go off grid completly and that encludes driving a car.
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Scott Smith
Just wait until Satanists use the same app to target Christians!
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Patti Anne Lisenbee
I hope they do! Sauce for the goose, after all, is sauce for the gander!
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Beth
Sadly, "unplug your computer" won't do it. Other people and organizations you deal with, including your state and federal taxing and licensing authorities also use computers, and put your personal information where it can be hacked or stolen and/or misused. The only way would be to move completely off the grid, only use cash and barter, do not own or rent a home, do not use any utilities, never access any health care. That is unfeasable for almost anyone. Otherwise, keep an eye on what information is added to credit reports, and what is put in about you in the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). You cannot change that last one, but you would know of medical identity theft - besides how it will likely show up in your credit report.
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Danny D. Maynard
"Bless Every Home" is simply the gossip from the neighborhood. Christians seems to be particularly gossipy!
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
best way to get this app down and gone is to get The Satanic Temple involved in using it to reach out to kristos-fascists and tell them how wrong and hateful they are
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TheStranger
Sometimes we forget that religious organizations are first and foremost a business and as such, they need customers, or in this case, congregants. Though not simply congregants, but congregants who contribute both in recruiting efforts and financially. They are truly the original pyramid scheme.
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Ulc Who
"Sometimes we forget that religious organizations are first and foremost a business and as such, they need customers, or in this case,"
Bull F'ing shlt Yeah that's the problem with churches nowadays. They aren't doing the Lords work, they're a business.
Since you and I agree, lets do away with 501(c)(3). If you're a "business", you should pay taxes like any other "business", Skippy.
Stop trying to be a "business" and be a church.
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Ulc Who
Well I fixed the door knocking problem several years ago. Here in North Carolina the courts have ruled it is legal to be inside your premises and nude, even if you are standing in front of an open window - or glass door - so long as you are INSIDE your premises. When I answer the front door naked with my johnson hanging down to my knees, the Jehova girls blush but don't hang around to give their sermon. For some reason? they never come back.
Then I installed a 6-foot chain link fence around my entire yard with a padlock on the gate and spoiled all the fun.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/naked-north-carolina-gerard-leeper_n_6934382
My wife is a night-shift nurse and I simply got fed up with the the constant knocking on the door every few days waking her up, and the Saturday morning first-thing "knocking for jesus". I mean, what idiots actually thinks that harassment if a good way to recruit new believers.
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Nathaniel Joseph Merritt
I was a JW for three years in my teens, so what I am about to divulge to you is true. To get rid of all JWs (not merely the ones who visited you on a particular day), tell the one(s) at your door "I'm disfellowshipped" and immediately shut the door. You just made yourself anathema to all JWs. Everyone's neighborhood is part of the "territory" for a particular congregation of JWs. They have their entire "territory" broken into small sections on territory cards. When they encounter a disfellowshipped JW they're required by Watchtower Law to make a notation of your address on the territory card they're using that day so that no other JW runs the risk of being destroyed in the Battle of Armageddon because they spoke to a disfellowshipped JW. Do not use the words 'shunned' or 'excommunicated' (words they do not use) as that will expose you as a faker and will only invite increased JW attention.
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Thomas P. Davis
You are correct, they told me once that if the person is not receptive, they place a mark in their directory and won't go there again for several years, by then they feel that there may be a new homeowner, or the person had a tragedy in their life and is willing to listen. Personally, I always invite them in to share why my beliefs are different from theirs and compliment them on being one of the few churches that are trying to follow the Lord's commands. The longest anyone of them came was a little over two years..
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Rev. Tim
If you want to try to convert me, I insist that you give me equal time to try to convert you first -- payment in advance, you might say.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Where in the universe is it possible to go in order to avoid privacy invasion???
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Brien
Privacy is a nice idea that we all can agree with. Unfortunately it doesn't exist. You give it away every time you are forced to fill out a government survey. Everything bought, used, and thrown away is tracked. When you get a job, depending on what it is, can have a severe impact on your privacy. Now, some of these intrusions may be necessary, but they still erode privacy.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Yes, they do invade our privacy. It's unfortunate, but every time we use a credit card or a bank card our purchases are being tracked. Why? Is it really necessary for the government to know that I bought a box of Frosted Flakes at my local grocery store?
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Tareq Asfour
Who is the genius who came up with this idea? May G’D help us !!
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Nicholas J Page
This is an evasion of privacy leave people alone if it comes to The U.K It will be told to clesr off or words to that effect.
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Rolando Couce
THERE IS NO PRIVACY ANYMORE WE ALL KNOW WHAT EACH OTHER IS DOING THE COMMUNIST AND THE NAZIS ARE SEEKING ALL OUR INFORMATION
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Brien
You might want to lay off the medication for a bit, (or maybe take your meds?) Politics aside, data mining is big business and that is our, (yes our as in all of us) fault. We have chosen to ignore it because we enjoy the convenience of the point and click and swipe. There needs to be stiffer regulations and meaningful penalties to combat the out of control intrusions into privacy.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
O-o-o-…kaaaaay
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William Lewis Vass
How did we arrive at, "communists and nazis", is my question ⁉️⁉️⁉️
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Russel A. Kester
It seems many here have taken the con side of the debate, so I'll try the pro side. In times past, an evangelist, often a monk or bishop, would convert the nation's King who would declare the new religion for his entire kingdom. Then we became democracies and developed suburbs which required a change in propaganda tactics from written material and witnessing door to door to advertising on the airwaves. This app is an improvement to aid to one's propagandizing efforts. Materials are collected legally and no one is forcibly coerced to convert when an evangelist knocks on someone's door. At least not yet. Give Islam a chance to spread and that might change as demonstrated by how peacefully it was spread across the Middle East and North Africa 1500 to 1000 years ago at the sharp end of a sword. For now, it's perfectly acceptable, but will need to be watched as time passes and society changes. So, I say go for it.
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William Lewis Vass
Funny you should point the finger at Muslims when Christianity has done the exact same thing. You'll find that religion targets vulnerable people and when you tell them you're not interested they get all defensive. Oh and by the way, Judaism was just as bad as the other two so my advice is stay away from religion, especially the triad of terror.
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Scott Smith
Jews typically do not proselytize. It is difficult to convert into Judaism when compared to other religions and sects.
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Rev Ned
I thought, this is so silly I’ve gotta check this out. Went to the Apple App Store. It’s not there. Maybe it’s pulled down. Maybe it’s a joke.
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Brien
Called "The Bless App" and is found in Google play store. Kind of scary looking.
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Rev. Rory
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
From AI...
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Gloo's features include:
Church information: Provides information about the church's congregation and community, such as generation, relationship status, number of children, household debt, and spiritual posture
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Network growth: Allows churches and organizations to add themselves as members of the network Data-driven tools: Empowers church leaders
Connect people, partners, and content: Helps ministries achieve their goals and change more lives
Gloo also connects people who need prayer, have questions about Jesus, or want to talk with a real human with local churches that can provide encouragement and support.
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Robert Rohr
Once they see my debt I guess I will not be hearing from them.
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RAYMOND BENITEZ
Good day to all, My Thoughts. Instead of stirring the pot about what was; we should focus on what we can do today with all the negative concern this world has. Our politics, direction, interests, education, beliefs, family values, religion are in a shamble and we as followers of God and the Bible should focus on this. Remember we are limited for we will die hoping later then soon. So, we must act now and support organizations that are doing the right thing for our Neiborhood, city, state and country. As we build our spirituality and should also build our material being. Funny thing, I wrote this before reading what Rev Rory commented, and Rev Rory is stating the same thing. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm." Amen.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
‘ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm."
Yeah, but ol’ Jehovah has some additional guidelines on that ‘lie down’ stuff.
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Danny D. Maynard
Jehovah had multiple personalities!
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Martin L Stigleman
So many people are denouncing this app and complaining about how much damage Christians can do with it. I disagree. I think this app is a very good thing! In fact, I urge everyone to introduce it to your Pagan friends, your local coven, and even get the nearest Satanic Temple using it. The information shared could help all beliefs expand their circle, while also sharing information on who should be held accountable.
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Donna K Fransen
They don't knock on my door. They see the beware of dog sign on the door and hear him bark, and they walk away. What's ironic is he wouldn't hurt them, he's just our portable door alarm.
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LuRonda Smith
Just wonderful... my take on this? The essence of the Malleus Maleficarum has now gone digital. We will hunt you down.
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Chantelle Renae Scott
Seems like a very scary way for predators to find out when a house is empty, when the kids are left alone all day. When they can break in, or how many people and ages of people they may encounter when robbing them. The more “notes” left on a household will just increase the local crime rate.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
This is stalking. Imagine encouraging the use of a dating app that did this, collecting information on people to find out who might be vulnerable to seduction, and noting when their defenses are especially weak. I see no difference in the two. It's predatory.
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Randy Caskey
I Don't care much for the idea of anyone spying on me for any reason but then if it's ok for the government and big business then the church should not be excluded ! I would rather the church do it before anyone else !
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Rev. Rory
I made an error in my comment and mentioned Asa. My apologies, I replied to the wrong thread.
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Rev Frankie PG
We're forgetting that most information, especially if you own a home is public information anyways. The Freedom of Speech (ie- expression) allows neighbors to express their religious faiths without fear of persecution (in the small print from the government, in all constitutional sense, it's supposed to be against any). If a religion, sect, etc. wants to conduct an outreach utilizing all possible resources, why are we to chastise them?
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Beth
501(c)(3) organizations include charities, educational organizations, and organizations that help specific populations or people at least under certain circumstances. It includes churches. I agree to look at a church or other religious organization as a business, and have them pay taxes on their profit, and like any other person or organization, deduct what they donate to help the poor, help education (NOT religious education!), help with housing, food, medicine, or so on.
At the very least, hold religious organizations to the same requirements regarding 501(c)(3) status as other organizations. Have them file specific profit and loss forms, as are required for any school, charity, friends of the library group are. Have churches be required to pay the same fees (which, IMnsHO, are too high) to file for 501(c)(3) status.
Moreover, 501(c)(3) organizations are not allowed to participate in politics EXCEPT as it directly effects their mission. They are not permitted to give out voting guides or host political speeches UNLESS all sides are equally represented. Churches have been allowed to participate in politics far too long.
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Reverend Paula Copp
The Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you) is something more people need to pay attention to. Personally, I don’t want anyone coming to my door if I don’t know them, and I have signs against trespassing posted. I have no problem with someone else’s religion, but I will not allow it to be shoved down my throat!
Unethical conduct? Why would we expect anything else at this point? It's become a hallmark of the new christo-fascist movement.