A metaverse makes sacred sites virtually accessible to digital pilgrims and offers space for individual and communal faith practices such as worship, prayer, baptisms, funerals, weddings, confessions and other religious rituals. Since 2015, it has been possible within "Experience Makkah" , for example, to visit the holy Mecca and, among other things, insert a prayer note into a crack in the Western Wall or participate in the Holy Fire ceremony. "Buddha-Bot" , a Buddhist chatbot, you can ask for advice in the Japanese Teraverse. Here, however, a fundamental media-scientific and theological question becomes apparent: How valid are religious acts in Metaverse? I will mainly refer to Catholic Christianity, as I have the most contact with it and a consideration of all religions would go beyond the scope of this work.
In October 2021, one of the world's largest social media corporations changed its company name from Facebook to Meta. The background to this is the construction of a so-called metaverse: A new 3D digital internet world where we can work, meet friends, do other everyday things or even attend events and concerts. All from the comfort of our own sofa in the physical world. In the same year, Fortnite developer Epic Games also announced they would invest a billion dollars in a Metaverse project, and Microsoft is also working on an "enterprise meta". Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is also fascinated by new digital 3D worlds. The metaverse is the "next big thing", the "next level of the internet". A metaverse (or cyberspace) today generally describes a global, virtual reality in which people can move and interact as (non-materialised) avatars within a (meta-)3D online space. The terms metaverse and also avatar were both first mentioned and significantly coined in the 1984 novel "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson. In the present, one reads again and again about "God has entered the metaverse" , "Metaverse Church is a Massive Hit During the Pandemic" or "Christians, Beware of the Metaverse".
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Argumentation
- Summary
- Source Index
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work explores the validity of religious acts in the Metaverse, focusing specifically on Catholic Christianity. It examines the intersection of religion and technology, considering the growing presence of religious practices in virtual reality spaces.
- The nature and significance of religious acts in the Metaverse
- The role of sacraments and rituals in virtual spaces
- Theological and philosophical perspectives on virtuality and reality
- The development and characteristics of the Metaverse
- The potential impact of the Metaverse on religious practice and belief
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of the Metaverse and its increasing relevance in the contemporary world. It highlights the growing presence of religious practices in virtual reality spaces, posing the question of the validity of religious acts within these environments.
- Argumentation: This chapter delves into the nature of religious practice, focusing on the Catholic Christian tradition. It examines the historical development of sacraments and rituals, their significance in the faith, and their potential application in virtual contexts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this work revolves around the concept of the Metaverse, its implications for religious practice, and the theoretical framework of virtuality and reality. Key concepts include sacraments, rituals, Catholic Christianity, virtual reality, and the intersection of faith and technology.
- Quote paper
- Lara Katharina Schneider (Author), 2023, Religious Acts in Metaverse. Catholic Christianity, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1338328
