so in one of my postings yesterday. revmom brought up checking out the cyber world of "second life." now i have never been a simulation game or virtual reality person.. i’ve never been a that person at all. so this world is quite foreign to me. however, i do see this coming as one of the next mission fields or the next social networking medium being avatar based.
so i followed her instructions.. and then got left on my own, i think i canceled the reminder/guide thing they give you for the orientation island. wandered aimlessly, lost my clothes, but then got my digs back on and made it out into the "real" world.
now an interesting part was walking around and seeing people that you know are people somewhere out there in the actual world. i didn’t talk with anyone. i am shy that way. i didn’t mind bumping into them as i still had a hard time walking straight for some reason. i made it over to the koinonia church. it was quite pretty.. for something not real. i checked out the list of services and all that. i don’t know when, but i’d like to make it back to see the church in action. i had a seat in the cozy sanctuary area. after that i wandered
i stumbled upon, not to far away from koinonia church was a methodist church. low and behold part of the british methodist church at that. they had some wesley stuff, organ, bell, the whole set up. i even tried to preach a sermon.. to no one of course. then it was over to some other really odd places..
i ended my stop at a monastery.. a nice peaceful time to rest after teleporting and flying all over the place. yes, flying & teleporting, this is real you know. &:~D
i don’t see this being my thing. but in ways, this was engaging, fascinating and fun. time consuming as well, so maybe i can be quicker next time to get in and out. who knows. i do think if you have yourself some energy to take on a bit of a challenge it is worth it to familiarize yourself with this or another world. there are seeking people in all parts, even flying around in a second life.
Hey Gavin — That’s my build. I’m altering the little white church to look like Lovely Lane church at Epworth.
The value of SL are all the people that log on every single day. There are so many looking for something — and a lot are looking for meaning.
I’ll be on tomorrow for the Koinonia service — maybe I’ll see you there?
Hey Gavin — That’s my build. I’m altering the little white church to look like Lovely Lane church at Epworth.
The value of SL are all the people that log on every single day. There are so many looking for something — and a lot are looking for meaning.
I’ll be on tomorrow for the Koinonia service — maybe I’ll see you there?
I wonder how my random chicky is doing wandering Second Life since I abandoned her there months ago. I liked having my avatar walk up to other people and talk to them. Some guy witnessed to me…it was surreal.
I wonder how my random chicky is doing wandering Second Life since I abandoned her there months ago. I liked having my avatar walk up to other people and talk to them. Some guy witnessed to me…it was surreal.
You lost your clothes???
It looks interesting (other than possibly bumbing into a nekkid virtual Gavin) but I’ve already got enough time wasters to waste time with…
You lost your clothes???
It looks interesting (other than possibly bumbing into a nekkid virtual Gavin) but I’ve already got enough time wasters to waste time with…
Out of curiosity, how exactly does one conduct a service in the SL world? Do the avatars sing hymns? The idea of a sermon is simple enough, but how is it any different than an illustrated message board or blog?
Out of curiosity, how exactly does one conduct a service in the SL world? Do the avatars sing hymns? The idea of a sermon is simple enough, but how is it any different than an illustrated message board or blog?
I created an account and made it to the church. Although it was empty, it’s still pretty cool.
I created an account and made it to the church. Although it was empty, it’s still pretty cool.
brett, it was empty when i was there too. i suppose no one goes there late at night.
drew, when you went into the church of fools the singing was much like a midi file with text that you would sing too. if you have voice chat enabled with sl i think you might hear others, but not sure.
art, i too have little time to really do, but i bet i will stop in at some point in time.
amy, that is fun. go check out the church next time you see what your chicky is doing.
brett, it was empty when i was there too. i suppose no one goes there late at night.
drew, when you went into the church of fools the singing was much like a midi file with text that you would sing too. if you have voice chat enabled with sl i think you might hear others, but not sure.
art, i too have little time to really do, but i bet i will stop in at some point in time.
amy, that is fun. go check out the church next time you see what your chicky is doing.
Question of the first part: You conduct the service much like you would in RL (real life). We usually have bulletins, there’s an order of worship, hymns or songs, prayers and sermon.
Question of the second part:
It’s different than a video recorded sermon or a blog or illustrated powerpoint in that it is voice enabled and many of the sermons are done “real time” (that is, given that the technology works … it didn’t last night.) There is a “feedback loop” from the preacher and the congregation. It’s harder to “read” the congregation because the avatars are usually rotating through a set of pre-set animations that are not hooked to “real life” but it is as it is.
Likewise, with a telephony headset, YOU can speak and participate in the service.
I’ve not heard actually singing, but it is possible.
There are animations so that you can “pose” your avatar — it’s not too much of a stretch to see one day a gloves/suit that you can wear to pose it real time.
During the “after service” time, people sit around and chat — much like a “real” Bible study. You can talk to each other via text chat or microphone.
It is a step to virtual presence. I have had a lady come by regularly during the winter b/c she was snowed in 75 miles from the local Methodist church. I have had people wander by who would NEVER step foot in a real church. Most of the people there are into a virtual “flesh market” not realizing that their actions in this virtual world have real life consequences.
It’s the thing of the moment — but it’s deeper than chatrooms were, it’s more interactive than blogging.
Question of the first part: You conduct the service much like you would in RL (real life). We usually have bulletins, there’s an order of worship, hymns or songs, prayers and sermon.
Question of the second part:
It’s different than a video recorded sermon or a blog or illustrated powerpoint in that it is voice enabled and many of the sermons are done “real time” (that is, given that the technology works … it didn’t last night.) There is a “feedback loop” from the preacher and the congregation. It’s harder to “read” the congregation because the avatars are usually rotating through a set of pre-set animations that are not hooked to “real life” but it is as it is.
Likewise, with a telephony headset, YOU can speak and participate in the service.
I’ve not heard actually singing, but it is possible.
There are animations so that you can “pose” your avatar — it’s not too much of a stretch to see one day a gloves/suit that you can wear to pose it real time.
During the “after service” time, people sit around and chat — much like a “real” Bible study. You can talk to each other via text chat or microphone.
It is a step to virtual presence. I have had a lady come by regularly during the winter b/c she was snowed in 75 miles from the local Methodist church. I have had people wander by who would NEVER step foot in a real church. Most of the people there are into a virtual “flesh market” not realizing that their actions in this virtual world have real life consequences.
It’s the thing of the moment — but it’s deeper than chatrooms were, it’s more interactive than blogging.
I see how Secondlife could be perceived as the next “mission field” but be careful of your motivation. I am not a Christian, but I have seen many a blog post debating weather or not a person who is involved in “sin” in a virtual world is really sinning, sinning virtually, or virtually sinning. And what is the difference, if any? Other blog posts have tackled things like: Are those who are involved in violence in battle sims like the World of Warcraft for example, really guilty of murder? My advice to you would be to use this virtual world as a platform to witness by sharing your Christ experience, being a friend and praying for others rather than using it as another arena for playing church or for going on a witch hunt for virtual sin like some do. Good Luck and I wish you well!
I see how Secondlife could be perceived as the next “mission field” but be careful of your motivation. I am not a Christian, but I have seen many a blog post debating weather or not a person who is involved in “sin” in a virtual world is really sinning, sinning virtually, or virtually sinning. And what is the difference, if any? Other blog posts have tackled things like: Are those who are involved in violence in battle sims like the World of Warcraft for example, really guilty of murder? My advice to you would be to use this virtual world as a platform to witness by sharing your Christ experience, being a friend and praying for others rather than using it as another arena for playing church or for going on a witch hunt for virtual sin like some do. Good Luck and I wish you well!
hey steven, thank you for your input. i like to share church with others because i believe the best of church is really wonderful, but i know it isn’t always wonderful.
my denomination has a hymn that the church is not a building but a people. i’ve grown up to, in my best & hopefully most days, that we spend time knowing folks in real or virtual worlds before ever expecting to call out those sin things.. i’ve never even thought of whether the virtual world perpetuates an actual sin.. interesting.
hey steven, thank you for your input. i like to share church with others because i believe the best of church is really wonderful, but i know it isn’t always wonderful.
my denomination has a hymn that the church is not a building but a people. i’ve grown up to, in my best & hopefully most days, that we spend time knowing folks in real or virtual worlds before ever expecting to call out those sin things.. i’ve never even thought of whether the virtual world perpetuates an actual sin.. interesting.
Dear Stephen,
Yes, I am careful about — for the most part it has been people coming to me telling me that they’ve had second thoughts about their actions in SL, not me seeking them out.
For me the litmus text is this: did your actions damage a real life relationship? if not, fine, have fun. If it did, then perhaps you need to examine the action closer.
A game is a game is a game — until a person is spending more time in SL than in their RL relationships and damaging them.
I could say more, but I must go to karate…
Dear Stephen,
Yes, I am careful about — for the most part it has been people coming to me telling me that they’ve had second thoughts about their actions in SL, not me seeking them out.
For me the litmus text is this: did your actions damage a real life relationship? if not, fine, have fun. If it did, then perhaps you need to examine the action closer.
A game is a game is a game — until a person is spending more time in SL than in their RL relationships and damaging them.
I could say more, but I must go to karate…