Freakonomics Radio 515. When You Pray to God Online, Who Else Is Listening?
18 snips
Sep 15, 2022 
Steve Gatina, Founder and CEO of Pray.com, and Larry Iannacone, an economist studying the intersection of faith and technology, dive into the booming world of digital prayer. They discuss how the pandemic accelerated the shift to online faith practices and the ethics of user data privacy. The conversation highlights Pray.com's rise as a source of hope while raising questions about the monetization of spirituality. They also examine inclusivity in religious apps and the evolving significance of prayer in a tech-driven society.
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Gatina's Wild Past
- Steve Gatina, CEO of Pray.com, admits to a past of un-Christian behavior during his college football years.
- He enjoyed hurting people on the field and indulging in a party lifestyle off the field.
Pandemic Prayer Surge
- Jeanette Benson observed a surge in Google searches for religious terms during the pandemic's start.
- This increase was higher than searches for takeaway, Netflix, and inversely proportional to the decrease in flight searches.
Wealth and Religion
- A negative correlation exists between GDP per capita and religiosity.
- Poorer countries tend to be more religious, while richer countries are less so, with the U.S. as a notable outlier.