I know I’m a traditionalist in a lot of ways. Stuck in a rut. Not always open to new ways of doing things.
Even if there is some truth in that, I don’t think it is completely true of me. It’s more that I don’t think just because something is the newest or the latest that it is automatically good or right. By the same token, I don’t think that just because “We’ve always done it this way,” that the old way is automatically good or right.
I certainly catch a lot more flak from resisting the “new way” than I do from either embracing or challenging “the old way” of doing things. And, truly, I am more likely to continue doing the same thing the same way while considering a new way than I am to try out the new while reconsidering the old.
Okay, that’s the disclaimer before I make my stand saying that I have a problem with online-game evangelism, brought to my attention by Think Christian.
Second Life players create a virtual version of themselves – an avatar – and wander through an ever-growing virtual reality with its own currency, industry and culture.
The point suggested by a Jesuit scholar seems to be that missionaries could join in the game with the purpose of evangelizing other players and leading them out of all the virtual temptations that exist there. The Jesuit Father suggests, “Second Life is somewhere where the opportunity to meet people and to grow should not be missed. Therefore, any initiative that can inspire the residents in a positive way should be considered opportune.”
Okay, so I’ve got a problem with this. Why? Well, on one level Lore Sjoberg gets quickly to the heart of my concerns about online-game evangelism, even though his starting point is a worldview very different from mine. (I second the caution note from Think Christian–while I think the post is a worthwhile read, it is not without irreverence and graphic language, so count yourself warned ahead of time.) I like this quote:
If you’re a virtual missionary in a virtual world speaking to another virtual person, are you trying to convert the virtual person or the real person behind it?
This seems like it ought to be a fairly straightforward question. After all, as far as we know Heaven doesn’t even have broadband… (that cracked me up)
So, yes, I am skeptical of online gaming being a good venue for evangelism. I could be wrong, but for now this is my stuck-in-the-mud stance.
Theological concerns aside, however, there was another problem I had with the call to Second Life evangelism. Once again, I sensed the concern, but did not have words for it, until I read this quote in a totally unrelated book on a seemingly unrelated topic–cell phones:
Cell phones take people out of the present moment they are sharing with others and transport their attention to some virtual place instead, often resulting in their becoming mindless of those around them. (from: The Contented Soul: The Art of Savoring Life, by Lisa Graham McMinn)
Aha, that is the heart of it for me. I have a fundamental problem with the attractiveness and seductiveness of virtual reality. It’s a pull not just to something, but from something–”real” reality.
There is no denying the pull and appeal of a fantasy world. It’s a lot less messy and a lot more immediately rewarding than real life. (I don’t think there is anywhere in life where nonstop dopamine/feel good hits are as easily available as they are in computer games. I’ll save that rant for another post. Just ask my kids about how I can go on and on about that.)
I’m not convinced by the argument that online gaming is a social event. I’ve watched a LAN party in action, with lots of people and lots of computers in the same room. Not one person there seems aware of the physical person sitting next to him. I’m not an expert on this, but it seems like even if there is typed communication to the other person, it’s not really about the two “real” people talking, but their virtual characters talking to each other. The very nature of being engrossed in the fantasy world makes being mindful of the “real” reality seem almost impossible.
I try to be openminded and think of other scenarios like a beautiful concert where I’m so caught up (enraptured) in the music that I’m mindless of those around me. I’m thankful when a breathtaking sunset removes me for a moment from noticing anything or anyone else. But, somehow, in those scenarios, the ”caught up in beauty” state seems different than being caught up in living out virtual reality.
The quote by McMinn is helping me think about applications to my own life consistent with my frustration with online gaming. In other words, while I don’t want my kids absorbed in online gaming, and while I want to pass on to them the principles for that and not just the outward pronouncement, I can see that I must also look at how the principles behind my concern apply to my own life. When a cell phone can jolt me out of (and repeatedly keep me out of) my present reality, when email and online blogging consumes me and takes precedent over being “with” my family, well, that is wrong in some of the same ways as I believe online gaming to be wrong.
I’m not saying it’s unequivocally wrong to talk with someone on the phone. Or to communicate with someone via the internet. I’m glad for the people I’ve met and the things I’ve learned through the blogging community. But when I become mindless and even disregarding of those physically around me, there is reason for concern.
Writing this out is helping me think through the principles that I hope will help my children and me to make wise decisions regarding the overabundance of hi-tech opportunities in front of us–whether those opportunities be deciding on participation in online-game evangelism (or online-gaming without the evangelism), answering my cellphone while talking to a friend, or reading and commenting on my favorite blogs while my children want and need me to be present with them.
I want to learn to be less distracted and increasingly mindful of those around me.
Virtual reality evangelism: Sounds like blogging to me…
BTW I saw you using underline for emphasis. That’s a bit confusing since people usually expect that to be a link somewhere. One possibility is italics.
Thanks for the tip! I’ve replaced the underlines with italics. I told you I get stuck in ruts. It’s been 15 or so years since I’ve used a typewriter, and I still forget that I can freely use italics without having to change the little thingy in the typewriter! Because I used to have to use underline for emphasis (and book titles, etc.), I still do it that way even when it’s not necessary! If I were a brilliant writer, I suppose I’d be able to write without depending on italics, underlining or ALL CAPS to show my emphasis. The reader would naturally place the emphasis in the correct place because of the genius of my word usage!
“Virtual reality evangelism: Sounds like blogging to me…”
Perhaps. I see a big distinction living out and talking about my faith in the form of blogging in contrast to online game evangelism in the form of virtual, unrealistic fantasy creatures. Help me understand if you disagree with this distinction.
I agree that blogging is not quite the same as virtual reality. The point of virtual reality is to be someone else. When I blog, I’m being myself, probably more than I am in reality. Face-to-face I worry so much about hurting feelings that I’m not always honest. I cushion everything I say. But when I blog, I feel like I can be more honest. In fact, I’m thinking about starting a new blog just because my husband has given too many of my friends my address, so now I feel that need to cushion again.
As for Second Life. Isn’t the fear the same as that of most mission fields: that you will get caught up in the type of life that you are trying to change? I would hate doing that, but for someone who is interested in that virtual reality life, I suppose there are worse things they could be doing than evangelizing.
April, thanks for sharing the difference you see between virtual reality and blogging. That was helpful for me to read in those words.
Also, I appreciate the question you ask. I’m not sure that that I see the two fears as the same, but the way you’ve asked it is helping me think about it from that perspective, as well as, I think, helping to sort through my personal preferences vs. the principles I want to operate from when making any decisions considering online life and community–blogging, virtual reality, or playing other online games where I don’t take on a fantasy character.
I enjoyed reading through some of the posts on your blog.
Regarding “Mindful of Reality.” From what I understand of your message, you are saying that you do not want people to get caught up in virtual reality so much that they are unaware of actual reality. So you would rather do away with this virtual reality thing altogether. That’s a fine notion, and I’d be happy with getting rid of it, too. For Christians, it would be fine for Pastors to tell us to avoid virtual reality and stay in touch with actual reality; however, for non-Christians, they ARE escaping to virtual reality. They will not heed the call of our Pastors to avoid virtual reality. So there is this huge place where any Christian can go without having to pack a bag or buy a plane ticket, and where we know that there are hurting people who are trying to escape actual reality. What better place to go and present the Good News of Jesus Christ to people, than right in their escape from reality? If we can tell people who are hurting and escaping reality that there is One who can heal their hurt and help them face actual reality, then how can we deny that oppurtunity? The people in Second Life are the people we want to reach for Christ, and they have given us an open invitation to talk with them by simply being online!
Now, as to how they would respond to us, whether they would respond as their character, or as themselves, I do not know. But I do know that their actual reality self has to read what has been typed, and process it in their actual brain. Even if they want to respond as their character, they still have to process it within themselves. And if we rely on God to do His part, through the Holy Spirit, then perhaps God will speak to them at the same time, and they will hear what we’re saying in actual reality, as well as virtual reality.
The way I see it, God told us to make disciples, and we can’t make disciples without spreading the Gospel. So why not avail ourselves to every oppurtunity to spred the Word, especially to those who need it the most?
Thanks, John, for your perspective. I continue to have very mixed emotions about this whole topic. But, I am open to (1) being wrong and (2) being challenged to think outside the box in this area. Writing about it and reading what others have written is helpful to me as part of the process. You have given me some good things to think about and grapple with.
Second Life is indeed a unique phenomenon, and has more users than the population of many a smaller country.
I do remain convinced that it is an area in which evangelism should be done (with caveats) and have written a page about this:
Second Life Evangelism. Will value feedback and comments on this.
Blessings
Tony