Jesuits say take word of God to Second Life
ROME, July 28 (Reuters) Catholic missionaries have always trekked to dangerous parts of the Earth to spread the word of God -- now they are being encouraged to go into the virtual realm of Second Life to save virtual souls.
In an article in Rome-based Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, academic Antonio Spadaro urged fellow Catholics not to be scared of entering the virtual world which may be fertile ground for new converts wishing to better themselves.
''It's not possible to close our eyes to this phenomenon or rush to judge it,'' Spadaro said. ''Instead it needs to be understood ...
the best way to understand it is to enter it.'' Second Life is a simulation game where players can create a virtual version of themselves -- an avatar -- and interact with other people in the three-dimensional world.
According to its Web site, it has a population of more than 8 million residents and millions of dollars change hands there every month.
''Is there (cyber) space for God?'' Spadaro aaka in his article which says there are already virtual churches and temples serving countless religions. He quotes a Swedish Muslim who says his avatar prays regularly as he prays in real life.
Spadaro warns the uninitiated that ''the erotic dimension is very present'' in Second Life, that people can buy genitalia for their avatars in a world that is ''open to any form of erotic stimulation from prostitution to paedophilia''.
While the virtual world might be a refuge for some people seeking to flee the real one, it is also full of people seeking something more from life, including, possibly, religious enlightenment, he said.
''Deep
down,
the
digital
world
can
be
considered,
in
its
way,
mission
territory,''
he
said.
''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.''
REUTERS
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