We are living in a world where social media is all the rage, a world where we spend more and more time online, where we are using the web to connect with friends that we haven’t spoken to in years, a world where we are revealing more and more about ourselves, our family and our friends on the world wide web, a world where geographic barriers no longer exist.

If you’re a 40 something think back 20 something years ago to when you were in college. How often did you use a computer? When you did use one what were you doing on it? Could you have imagined that you would one day take the time to “update your status” on a website? Twenty some years ago it took a lengthy conversation with a friend or an acquaintance before discussing your “status.” Today, it takes just seconds to check in on your friend on Facebook and learn all about them and their personal live

So how much should you reveal about yourself and your more private thoughts, affiliations and preferences?

Should you discuss your religious affiliation online?

In this post I’m going to tackle the topic of religion. Should you reveal your denomination online? Should you blog about your faith? If you’re a virtual small business owner should you tell your clients which holidays you’re closing for? Will they be offended if they don’t share your faith? Should it matter, will it matter?

Instead of only relying on my professional opinion around this topic I asked a network of fellow personal brand strats what they thought.

A few felt that minimal, if any religious preferences should be revealed online. And others, like Winnie Anderson, founder of Virtual Marketing Mavens, a New York / New Jersey-based personal brand strategist and online marketer said, “I have a spot on my website where I share my core values and the first one is faith.”

Anderson went on to explain that she had a former client contact her after she launched her new web site who told her, she liked the site, “but she thought I needed to take off “that faith stuff” because she believed it would repel people like her.” The former client continued and said, “I wouldn’t have called you if I saw that.” Anderson admitted that she was happy to hear the previous client’s response because this was a client she wouldn’t have chosen to work with again.

Sue Brettell, another online ID specialist, designer and copywriter based in the UK said, “I know from experience that (your core values) will attract the people you DO want to work with.”

A global viewpoint

Myriam-Rose Kohn, founder of Jeda Enterprises is a Belgium born, Los Angeles based multi-lingual, international career-services consultant. Kohn brought a global perspective to the conversation and cautioned, “words and perspectives can be perceived differently from one end of the globe to the other.” She continued, “outside of the U.S., people are taught to be more sensitive to others views” about the topics of religion, faith and spirituality.

The most divisive force on earth

What do you think? Drop me a note in the comments.