Neil Locke discusses the use of Second Life (SL) as a place for Presbyterians to gather. Comments describing this sort of activity as "Very sad indeed when the joy of real life is traded in for a micro chip exsistance (sic)", or "Get out into the real world where Christ is moving amongst His people" have rather predictably turned up. Ironic that one posting a comment on a blog would come with such a critique.
Those who are so adamant about SL being a waste of time probably don’t understand what it is. To add theological assertions to that is simply then, going off-target. I have seen some cool things done with SL for educational purposes – esp. in educational technology and the hard sciences. Organizations abound there that promote teaching of various subjects. But part of the problem with theology is that this “queen of the sciences” attitude coupled with the notion that there is one way of where and how and when to “do” ministry are some of the things that emergent conversations are here literally from which to emerge! These two dispositions are inherently related and part of a continuous problem since the earliest biblical texts – and in other religions too. Should the point get lost here as well, Second Life is part of the “real world” like it or not. It is constitutive of human experience as other communications media are. What we call "virtual reality" is virtual in the sense that the notion of what is physical is very different than in normal human experience. However, the relationships that form in the communities that inhabit these spaces are quite real and far from "virtual." If it is not something that interests you, fine. But that it clearly interests others does not mean that a simple devaluation of it as a place where God is not is rife with social and theological problems which I discuss below.
Another analogized that doing any sort of ministry in Second Life is like the idea that strip clubs are not good places for ministry. It is not a fitful place for ministry and contributes to escapism and the apparent dangers of virtual worlds and virtual community. I think Hookers for Jesus and the XXX Church offer pretty decent counter examples regarding the question if ministry can be done at strip clubs or the Adult Video Network Awards. Remember, Jesus was not supposed to offer the Kingdom to those stinking shepherds, evil tax collectors, and women caught in adultery. I mean, why would they ever listen to him and try to become better people when it was clearly not in their genes to do so? "Don’t waste your time with them Jesus. Go to the Temple and claim your throne." Judas was dead wrong as were the Pharisees and Scribes who challenged Jesus' ministry.
Many still have a strange idea that technology is basically cool computer stuff. It is more than that. As Paul Hagner once defined this view, technology is anything invented after you were born. This is wrong. It is anything that has been developed in the process of human beings creating the world in which you live. If computers are a technology creating more problems than solving because they are technology, why not also dispose of all technology? Do get rid of the Blackberry, especially if you love it. It is better to cut off your arm lest it lead you to sin right?
This is not really about technology. Technology is always present and always will be. Technology is one critical means for how people build worlds. For to create worlds is to be human. Technology is literally a special knowledge in the art of creating a world and to do so means that you do it with others. It is social all the up and all the way back. All technology is invested with hidden values and assumptions of the people who build it in order to build a kind of world or experience with the world. On the other hand, escapism is not interacting with anyone. The technology of Second Life is one way to utilize the media at one’s disposal to engage human interaction and to build community in a novel way.
Think about other technology we use to build community. In order for you to go out to meet someone face to face, you have to drive a car, on paved roads, that are navigable, and you drive through computer controlled traffic signals, etc.: all technology. Is that bad as well? Does that corrupt and should we get rid of it? Microwaves, pencils, pens, paper, basketball hoops, alphabets: technology one and all. It is not the technology, but the relationship we have with it as a medium that is at stake. While technology creates our world, we cannot confuse the technologies we use to create our world with the source of all creation. The same was at stake for Paul and the function of the Law. If you recall the true function of the Law is condemnation in Romans.
This is about community and identity. The literature on identity exploration, ethnographies on Second Life, and the lessons we can learn about people as they create and recreate their identities tell us a lot about them we would otherwise not know. Talk to people who spend time in SL frequently and they will tell you that there is a deeper level of intimacy often expressed because the boundary of space and time largely goes away.
If media like Second Life is not your thing that’s fine. But it’s not the “thing” of most Americans to “Shaine Claiborne” it and live a monastic life apart from virtually any consumerist excess. That’s not my gig either, but clearly is his. Some are called to monasticism, others are called to places that are far different. Some are called to the poor, some are called to the porn industry, some are called to big business. Each has their own function into which they were called, as Paul also wrote. God calls people to places that are rarely in keeping with human purity laws and the social functions of those laws. Jesus made that point over and over again as did the prophets. Do we still not get it?
If God calls people to be a community in strange places that are out of the bounds of what is normative and acceptable to any given point of view, it is a shame if we ignore that to pursue our own idols of what we think is worthwhile for an investment of time and effort.
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We have two members of the congregation here who have built up a faith community in SL as well. They do a weekly bible study and also stream in the worship services from here into a "church" they have built. They have about 30-40 people attend each week. Many of them are people who are physically unable to attend physical worship services, so this gives them an experience of worship they would not have otherwise.
They also are connecting with people that many of us "in the church" don't come in contact with on a regular basis.
Honestly, they are probably the strongest evangelists we have here.
wow. awesome. really awesome. that's what i'm talkin' 'bout!
@revdarth — that's wonderful. Are they (and you) Presbyterians by any chance? If so, perhaps you can pass on our existence to them and we can share ministry. Actually, even if they aren't Presbyterians, it's great to connect with other people of faith in Second Life, and work alongside them for God's "Real" Kingdom.
@Drew — thanks for posting this! Joining us next Saturday night? We'll probably tackle the "organizational structure" question, and I suspect the ever-present issue (in online things) of identity vs. anonymity will be raised, too.
We have two members of the congregation here who have built up a faith community in SL as well. They do a weekly bible study and also stream in the worship services from here into a "church" they have built. They have about 30-40 people attend each week. Many of them are people who are physically unable to attend physical worship services, so this gives them an experience of worship they would not have otherwise.
They also are connecting with people that many of us "in the church" don't come in contact with on a regular basis.
Honestly, they are probably the strongest evangelists we have here.
wow. awesome. really awesome. that's what i'm talkin' 'bout!
@revdarth — that's wonderful. Are they (and you) Presbyterians by any chance? If so, perhaps you can pass on our existence to them and we can share ministry. Actually, even if they aren't Presbyterians, it's great to connect with other people of faith in Second Life, and work alongside them for God's "Real" Kingdom.
@Drew — thanks for posting this! Joining us next Saturday night? We'll probably tackle the "organizational structure" question, and I suspect the ever-present issue (in online things) of identity vs. anonymity will be raised, too.