NBC News Picks Up On LifeChurch.tv’s Second Life Campus
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, May 21, 2007
- Viewed 135
- (9) comments so far
One of the fastest growing sites on the internet isn’t a Web site, but a 3-D virtual world built and owned by it’s residents. It’s called “Second Life,” and for millions of users, it’s a place to escape reality.
But just like the real world, good and evil also exist in “Second Life.” As a result, religion is finding it’s way there too.
For Jeff and Deziray Click in Oklahoma City, it’s a typical Sunday at church, while 800 miles away, Nathan Carline is attending the same church in virtual reality.
“I can just get up in my PJs, turn the computer on and I’m right there,” Carline says.
In a computer-generated, secular world called “Second Life” where more than 6 million people interact and explore virtual cities—some rated PG, many for adults only—a new religious frontier is emerging, with churches, synagogues and mosques trying to gain a foothold.
Life Church, an evangelical mega church in Oklahoma City, has invested thousands of real dollars to build a presence in Second Life. Its Sunday services are now live in both worlds.
Life Church is basically the same church whether it’s in the real world or the virtual world. The difference in Second Life is the people—virtual selves can be male or female, human or not. One particular Cheetah came to church wearing Hawaiian shorts and said he only feels accepted here, in the virtual church.
But is this really church?
Elaine Heath is an ordained minister and professor at Southern Methodist University. She says that people have to be in a community living out faith together to really have a church. Still, Nathan Karline says the message is the same. He hasn’t been to a real church since finding faith in Second Life.
Any thoughts?
NBC Nightly News has picked up on the LifeChurch.tv "Second Life" Campus. From NBC.com: A new online virtual world called Second Life is also a new religious frontier where real-life churches, synagogues and mosques are trying to gain a foothold. NBC's Don Teague reports. You can watch the video online...
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Mark Knoll on Tue, May 22, 2007
“Still, Nathan Karline says the message is the same. He hasn’t been to a real church since finding faith in Second Life.”
And here in lies the problem, no community, no church. It is true that this can be said of any media outlet, but unless that media source is telling those who isolate themselves that this in no way is what church was meant to be, there are some serious dangers.
Jason H on Tue, May 22, 2007
Are you sure there is no community, or is it just different community?
Leonard on Tue, May 22, 2007
My buddy once told me that this is my church as he pointed to the rugged outcropping of rocks, surrounded by tall trees. “Nothing like the Sierras to inspire your worship of the creator, he told me.” “I agree,” I said, since I grew up trekking these same mountains, fishing the lake we were standing by and camping in the campground to which we would soon head. As we sat by the fire that night I asked him if we could talk more about his church. He obliged me and began to tell me of all the places he connects with God, an actual church being the last one. (okay it didn’t even make the list) As he shared his experiences as a kid in a church, the way he felt there and the way he felt here in the pristine creation, the actual church could not compare.
I waited till he was done talking and asked him if I could respond with one question? I said, “lets say that while we are here, enjoying friendship and the cathedral that has a ceiling painted by God with the stars of heaven. Let’s say sadly that your wife gets hit by a car and is in ICU. Which one of these stars, which one of these trees, which one of these lakes will pray for her, visit her, care for you, look after your boys, provide food for her while she recovers, help if your finances run short, encourage you with cleaning, weeding and other practical need you will have as your family recovers?”
After a long pause, a surrendered chuckle, he said none of them. I looked at him and said, that is the church. This is beautiful and we certainly can worship God here, but lets not call it the church. A few months later he gave his heart to Christ, is now a huge part of our church and the best part, he and I still go away to worship God in the created cathedral of nature.
I love the creativity of life church and second life, but it must point us to a place where our gifts can be used to strengthen and care for each other, reach out to others and develop a picture of God that can only be shaped by community. If it doesn’t it isn’t church. I think it should still be done but it isn’t church.
Ray Fowler on Tue, May 22, 2007
Leonard,
That is an awesome story, and the best comment I have read on a blog in quite some time. Thank you for sharing.
fishon on Tue, May 22, 2007
Leonard,
If you don’t mind, I would like to use your story as a devotional from the pulpit?
fishon
Leonard on Tue, May 22, 2007
Thanks for the encouragement, go for it Fishon, God gets the credit we get to play in eternity together. Wow!
Mark Knoll on Tue, May 22, 2007
Jason,
Leonard’s story is a much more fitting response for community than I could conjure up, so I will second what he said.
kent on Wed, May 23, 2007
I am curious as to what is the relative ratio of those who check in at the Second Life congregation to those who attend one of their sites. My gut instinct says that those who show up at the sites overwhelms those who walk into the virtual site. Kudos to Life Church for their missional creativity.
Peter Hamm on Wed, May 23, 2007
Leonard,
I am still waiting for you to write a book! We’ll all buy a copy, I’m sure…
Biblical church is all about community and fellowship with each other, just like the Holy Trinity has… Thanks for the reminder.
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