America OnLine (AOL)

America OnLine is only accessible with special graphical access software, which is available for free to Macintosh or Windows users. (There used to be versions of the access software for MS-DOS users with EGA or better monitors, and for users of Geoworks Ensemble, but these have been phased out in recent releases.) AOL frequent includes access software disks with modems, computer magazines, by direct mail, and once, I even got handed a disk with my packet of peanuts while flying out of Dallas-Fort Worth airport. (In fact, there are so many AOL disks lying around the world that people compete to think up novel uses for them. Personally, I use the diskettes for keeping backup files. The CD-ROMs are a good deal less useful, as they're too slippery to be much good as coasters, and tacking them up on your wall to prove how cool and computer-literate you are, even in your choice of room decorations, is counter-productive if you let your friends get close enough to see what's actually on the CD-ROM.) In case you have recently stepped off a flying saucer from Zeta Reticuli, or have never admitted to anyone outside a confessional booth that you actually own a computer, or have somehow managed to avoid AOL's attentions in some other bizarre manner, and you would like to try out the service, you can contact AOL directly. They'll probably be amazed to hear from you.

Like all the big systems, AOL offers special interest groups, E-mail, files, online games, and access to online databases from assorted news sources and reference materials. As of January, 1996, AOL had approximately 4,500,000 users. By October, 1997, it had grown to approximately 6,500,000 subscribers. At that time, AOL announced a buyout of its biggest rival, CompuServe. The speculation is that AOL will eventually shut down CompuServe and merge the two services into one, but thus far, that hasn't happened yet. In any case, The combined subscribers for both services exceed 10 million, far outstripping the Microsoft Network, AOL's neaxt-nearest rival.

The basic monthly rate on America OnLine is $9.95 per month, which includes five free hours. Additional hours are $2.95 each. In addition, there is a surcharge for access from Canada.

There is E-mail access between America OnLine and the Internet. To send mail from Internet to AOL, address it to screenname@aol.com. Thus, if a user's "screenname" on AOL was "Listener1", their address from the Internet would be <listener1@aol.com&#gt;. AOL also offers access to the Web, usenet newsgroups and gopher, and is working to add other Internet services.

The Ethics and Religion Forum on America OnLine is open to all. It first opened in 1988. At last report, there were 21 message boards (on everything from "Atheism" to "Zen") with over 100,000 messages in the message centre. The Christian section has seven message boards. The Religion Library has software and graphics in the "Applications" library, sermons/outlines in the "Homiletics" library, full- text articles, etc. in the "Christian"(2), "Judaism," "Buddhism," "Islam," and "Other Religions" libraries and books, magazines, etc. in the "Publications" library. The "Graphics" library is the home of "Highland Graphics", a great source of religious clipart. The "Publications" library receives monthly newsletters and magazines from members across the country, including The American Family Association Journal, Christian Press Report, and Israel News Digest. There is also a searchable Bible (KJV) online for members' use. There is also a gateway to the Christianity Online Forum sponsored by Christianity Today magazine. There are several chat rooms, including "The Front Porch" (which was chosen "one of the 99 best places to hang-out online" by Computer Life magazine), a monthly "Pastoral Musicians" chat, and the "Christian Womens Fellowship." The sysop of the Religion & Ethics forum is Jerry White <sermoner1@aol.com>.

The Christianity Online Forum was started in 1994 by the publishers of Christianity Today magazine. Aside from the publications of Christianity Today, inc. (Campus Life, Christian History, Christianity Today, Leadership, Marriage Partnership, and Today's Christian Woman), Christianity Online features participation from other publications like Christian Computing Magazine.

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