A Christian version of popular video sharing sight YouTube has been set up in the US to host user-generated content of a religious nature.
Created by Chris Wyatt, a Dallas seminary student and former TV producer, GodTube has the slogan 'broadcast him'. It is claiming 50,000 viewings a day.
"GodTube utilises web-based technology to connect Christians for the purpose of encouraging and advancing the Gospel worldwide," says the site's mission statement.
"[Postings should not] be contrary to the evangelisation of Jesus Christ and His teachings, or constitute blasphemy, or be otherwise offensive to our online Christian community."
The site hosts a wide variety of content, including famous sermons, lectures debunking evolution and atheism, and 'self-help' videos such as What will you do the next time porn strikes? (25,158 views) and Compassion - Sponsor a Child (293 views).
But some viewers have already expressed concerns over the ghettoising effect of the site, and are questioning the need for such specialist material.
"What's so Christian about all of these things," says software engineering student and Christian Russ Seehafer in his video Why Godtube.com is stupid.
"Using 'christian' as an adjective automatically gives whatever you are describing some fictitious 'Approved by God' seal.
"It is beyond me how anyone can claim to be so down with our maker that they are able to slap his approval on anything they deem 'christian'."
Seehafer's video was taken down by the site after it appeared on the front page. It has now been reinstated with a message from the founder defending the site.
"As the CEO and a founder, I can tell you that other video sharing sites, like the one mentioned in the clip, are full of porn," says the message.
"Do you want your children watching porn? Do you want to refer someone to a site that is chalked full of porn?"
The site is similar to others which take popular websites and seek to add an alternative spin, such as Conservapedia.com, MyChurch.org and MuslimSpace.com.
Friends of the Earth latest group to question estimates used in technology feasibility study 06 Jan 2009
Moto W233 Renew handset is made out of recycled water bottles 06 Jan 2009
New unit to focus on megawatt-scale projects for utility and industrial plants 06 Jan 2009
More news
Why 2009 will deliver both tough times and tide-turning optimism for green businesses 05 Jan 2009
Renewable Energy Credits are designed to spur the development of renewable energy by selling the rights to its environmental benefits. Carbon credits often aim to do much the same thing. Can the two get along? 02 Jan 2009
From financial meltdown to Obama's election victory, the end of the year combined fear and hope for the green business movement 31 Dec 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
