When smartphones come to church, you know nowhere is safe

I've attended church with my family for my entire life, but I've noticed a stark change in the last few visits to our non-denominational Christian congregation: A startling number of people around me spent the sermons glued to smartphones and tablets.

Even my dad, a classic Midwestern disciplinarian, pulled out his iPhone and put it on his lap for easy access right as I was turning mine off for the first time that week. He and the others that I spotted through some good old-fashioned pew snooping weren't using their gadgets to scroll through Twitter or play Candy Crush, though — they were following along with the pastor in the pulpit as he read passages in the Bible, which happens often in non-denominational services focused on interpreting and applying scripture to daily life.   Read more...