Can I use facebook on a silent retreat?

Just before Easter, I went on a retreat. One part of it was silent - not something I would normally appreciate, but this was fine, in the context. It was only 18 hours, which I could cope with.

Anyhow, the question came up was it appropriate to use facebook on a silent retreat? The same, of course, applies to Twitter, and all sorts of other online social media. I mean, should I even have been considering this blog post on a silent retreat?

The thing is, it we need to understand what the purpose of a silent retreat is. I know that the purpose is to "meet with God" or some such idea, but what is the point of the silent aspect? Is is about not speaking? Not making a noise? Not chatting?

I take the view that the silent aspect is about removing the needless or social chit-chat that is a part of all social situations. It is not to indicate that this interaction is wrong in any sense, just that it can get in the way of engaging with God, letting God speak to us, and letting us hear what he says.

I think there is a danger that a "silent" retreat is taken too far, and another danger that it is taken not far enough. The danger of not taking it far enough is to avoid the talking, but continue to keep up with everyone online, reading papers or books, in essence, just using it as a chance to have some peace and quiet. The "not chatting to others" is a positive, because you can focus on what you want to do, and not have to deal with other people. That is not taking it seriously enough - it should be a time to reduce your social interaction so there is time to focus on God.

The "taking it too seriously" is about focusing too hard on the "being silent" rule. The place we were at included a bookshop, open to the public. We were told of people who had been on a silent retreat there, and refused to talk to people when they came into the shop looking for help. The view of our retreat leader - and me, but as I am not a great one for silent retreats, this is not necessarily a good guide - was that this was not an appropriate response, in that situation. Assisting people who need help is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

The thing is, insisting on your own perfect silence at the expense of others is wrong - faith is always about others first and foremost. Being silent and avoiding chit chat should not mean not being prepared to help others, but maybe doing it with the minimum of talk. that may be an even bigger challenge than complete silence.

So what about facebook, twitter and suchlike? Well I think there is a place for using them on retreat. Maybe reduce your usage, less "chattering", and more listening. The thing is, for me, these forms of engagement are important, and to keep up with the discussions - even if to reduce my replies because I am supposedly on retreat - is important.

So the answer, I think, is to treat a silent retreat as a chance to reduce your chit chat, the social niceties, and to focus on God. But if the newspapers, social media, other people, can help that, then they are positives. As always, it is wrong to focus on the discipline itself, but see this as a part of our Christian growth and development. As with lent, it is not about giving certain things up, it is about growing spiritually.