Religion in Second Life

Politics, Academe, Corporations… practically every group in society’s making strides in the virtual world of Linden Lab’s Second Life. Yes, that includes folks who prefer sexual gratification from virtual cats. Now that Holy Week’s started, the folks from USA today report that even the spiritual are making moves in Second Life.

Despite the large number of religious parodies such as the Church of Burgertime, and the Church of Elvis, there are some who are serious about their spirituality within the virtual world.

For example, there are the Avatars of Change, a religious group that includes folks from Christians to Jedi to Rastafarians.

Aside from that, there is also a growing number of more traditional areas (this means areas as similar and as solemn as their more tradition real world counterparts) set aside for study, prayer, support and counseling.

Larry Transue, a pastor within Second Life, and a 43 year old who works in the bio-tech industry had this to say about Second Life: “…sin in thought, word and deed. People think what they do in a virtual world is OK, because it’s not real. But it is real, because your thoughts are real. Who you truly are will shine through eventually.”

Transue, who is involved in evangelism in real life, and sees it that it is his goal to practice what he believes wherever he is.

All this talk about religion in Second Life reminds of this guy, and his turning of Second Life into a religion.

Via USAToday

Politics, Academe, Corporations… practically every group in society’s making strides in the virtual world of Linden Lab’s Second Life. Yes, that includes folks who prefer sexual gratification from virtual cats. Now that Holy Week’s started, the folks from USA today report that even the spiritual are making moves in Second Life.

Despite the large number of religious parodies such as the Church of Burgertime, and the Church of Elvis, there are some who are serious about their spirituality within the virtual world.

For example, there are the Avatars of Change, a religious group that includes folks from Christians to Jedi to Rastafarians.

Aside from that, there is also a growing number of more traditional areas (this means areas as similar and as solemn as their more tradition real world counterparts) set aside for study, prayer, support and counseling.

Larry Transue, a pastor within Second Life, and a 43 year old who works in the bio-tech industry had this to say about Second Life: “…sin in thought, word and deed. People think what they do in a virtual world is OK, because it’s not real. But it is real, because your thoughts are real. Who you truly are will shine through eventually.”

Transue, who is involved in evangelism in real life, and sees it that it is his goal to practice what he believes wherever he is.

All this talk about religion in Second Life reminds of this guy, and his turning of Second Life into a religion.

Via USAToday