About this Web Site
Philosophy of Information, Apologia
The Edupage ejournal reported on a story appearing the same day in the March 11, 1997 issue of the Wall Street Journal:
It is with this in mind, as the sole full-time employee of Apologia, that I launch this site. Make no mistake that my top priority is the consistent production of Apologia Report. Maintaining this Web site and even fielding the questions of my readers is secondary. To handle the non-subscription related needs of readers I have established the ARtalk discussion list. It is not that I am a recluse. I simply know that Apologia lives or dies with my balance of priorities. Besides the above, I obviously must manage the administrative tasks in keeping the organization afloat. So, while I plan to make continuous improvements to the Apologia site, high bandwith flash and features are not part of the current agenda.
There is another high priority that influences the design of this Web site. I am increasingly sensitive to the needs of online readers in underdeveloped nations. Primarily I am thinking of tent-makers and full-time missionaries. Over the last several years I have been in touch with people like this in over 40 countries on a weekly basis. Most of the communication has been one way. I provided information. That is what I exist to do -- enhance the value of existing resources by reporting their usefulness. The more I can multiply my efforts through technology, the more significant my work will be.
These people usually do not have access to the bandwidth that enables them to utilize the full features of Web technology. Often even browsing in text-only mode is the outside limit of their ability. It is for this reason that you won't see a lot of technical sophistication on this site. Content is the priority, and most of it will be made available via e-mail with Apologia Report -- not this site. Edupage had this to say about the significance of e-mail on the 16th of January 1997:
For now, E-mail is king. Until the Web becomes king, my focus will tend toward making the most of e-mail as the vehicle that the greatest number of Apologia Report readers now utilize.
A Word of Commendation
There are other valid options to the philosophy of information expressed above. Therefore, I would like to call your attention to another organization in the field of Christian apologetics. Watchman Fellowship has practiced a financially difficult yet noble information philosophy since it first began. They have been mailing out their newsletter, The Watchman Expositor, at no charge for years. Now, with their presence on the Web <http://rampages.onramp.net/~watchman/index.html>, they continue to make so much material available that they have become, in my opinion, the most resourceful site available on the Web for evangelicals who are looking for information on new religious movements.
I wish them well as they continue to progress in their ministry.
Rich Poll
President, Apologia
March 27, 1997