As far as untapped populations go, Second Life has one that soon could be a target of missionary activity.
(Um. You said it, not me.)
World Gospel Mission, (WGM) an organization that “connects in ministry with churches worldwide to make disciples of Jesus Christ among all nations,” is currently reviewing the pluses and minuses of missionary work in this virtual world.
WGM recently posted an entry on its blog with one main intriguing question for the missionary-minded: “Are the temptations of the virtual world so compelling that missionaries should avoid an online presence, or is it possible to be an influence for good within it?”
This separation between a person being “in the world” but not “of the world” comes directly from verse: Jesus, in John 17:13-19, sends his disciples into the world but says they are “not of the world.”
Not being “of” the world, of course, means trying to rise above the temptations of what is “in” world. In Second Life, this can means sex, porn, and violence.
WGM still has no answer to these concerns, but if a missionary approaches you in the near future in Second Life, rest assured that the controversy has been resolved. Hmmm. Or maybe they want to RP, but I’ll leave it at that.
Thanks for the interesting commentary Dustin, I’ve wondered about the implications of Second Life evangelism myself.
Oooh, now here’s a new field of theological inquiry - is there “sin” in Second Life? And if so, what is the nature of the sin? If you “dispose” of an avatar, are you a murderer? And if there IS going to be a Second Coming, might not “He” return in a Second Life?
Inquiring minds need to know!
“And if there IS going to be a Second Coming” I think that would constitute a Second Second Coming and it’s always been my understanding that men can’t do that.
I leapt over here with visions of a conversation about sexual positions advocated by Thomas Aquinas, and was not disappointed by ichabod’s comments though my dear keep looking, there are some “wicked grin”
As an African when it come’s to missionary work, we more than most have seen this machinery in its full glory, and I look at this move with suspicion, but also with personal interest as it shows the alignment of the real world and virtual is getting closer .