Society of Jesus calls missionaries to Second Life
Saving virtual souls from 'erotic simulation'
By Cade Metz in San Francisco
Jesuit missionaries may soon venture into Second Life, intent on saving virtual people from virtual sins.
Writing in the Italian Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, whose contents are approved by the Vatican, Father Antonio Spadaro has told fellow Catholics that they shouldn't be wary of venturing into Second Life's virtual world, arguing that the online alternate universe might be the perfect place to land converts, Reuters reports.
"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." A regular contributor to the Jesuit journal, Spadaro has also lauded Tom Waits as a Christian role model.
With his latest piece, the 40-year-old academic warned that "the erotic dimension is very present" in Second Life, explaining that users often buy virtual genitalia for their virtual avatars and that Linden Lab's 3D world is "open to any form of erotic stimulation from prostitution to pedophilia."
But he also said that Second Life is home to various churches and temples, quoting a Swedish Muslim who says "his avatar prays as regularly as he prays in real life," and though this sort of thing is far from the norm, Spadaro believes that many who venture into Second Life's virtual den of iniquity may be calling out for virtual help.
"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."
Deep in a battlefield covered in blood,
lies a Celestial Paladin dying in the mud.
He fought to keep Ysgard free,
For characters like you and me
I wanna buy my character genitals.
[i]Blessed is the mind too small for doubt[/i]
Though I walk through the vally in the shadows of daemons, I shall fear nothing. For I am what the daemon fears.
It was either that or silence is golden written on one of the gates to hell or something?
[i]Blessed is the mind too small for doubt[/i]
Though I walk through the vally in the shadows of daemons, I shall fear nothing. For I am what the daemon fears.
The problem you have is the old gem that D&D is essentialy devil worship. Second life is so much more huggable and plesant as we are already unsaveable, Especialy any one who has given Grovel gold to do the happy goblin dance. You know who you are you bad people.
If anyone wishes to see the happy goblin dance, it will cost you a trap, a scroll or some gold
Unless you draw a sword and say DANCE GOBLIN, DANCE!
Grovel puts the P in swimming pool.
Small in stature, large in power, narrow of focus and wide of vision
My play/DM times: [url]http://www.ysgard.org/viewtopic.php?highlight=play&t=7671[/url]
It was either that or silence is golden written on one of the gates to hell or something?
Nope
As for the matter. Morgan touched on a good point. Second Life at first glance has more appeal, since it's less linear, Though in my experience. That breeds all sorts of sin, And although an amount of Christian/Religious factions do declare fantasy games as 'Evil' or such.
Not all do.
[i]I live yet do not live in me,
am waiting as my life goes by,
and die because I do not die.
- St John of the Cross.[/i]
It was either that or silence is golden written on one of the gates to hell or something?
Nope
Are you really sure?
I thought silence is golden was one of their big clever sayings.
What is second life anyways?
[i]Blessed is the mind too small for doubt[/i]
Though I walk through the vally in the shadows of daemons, I shall fear nothing. For I am what the daemon fears.
Grovel puts the P in swimming pool.
Small in stature, large in power, narrow of focus and wide of vision
My play/DM times: [url]http://www.ysgard.org/viewtopic.php?highlight=play&t=7671[/url]
It's a non-linear video game world, basically Virtual Reality,
There are no hitpoints, levels, lives, etc.
Just people in a 3d world where you can create yourself and things around you.
Sounds pretty fun
Xanthalas wrote:
Most of the people in said world, Know what Google is and how to use it,
Lazy Foo'.
I just trust your opinion and figure you'll explain it better that this google fellow LostCause keeps telling me about.
Found the sign This way to the city of pain.
Thru here ceaseless agony awaits.
All lost souls must enter here.
Justice inspired God to make this place.
It was built with three tools;
Omnipotence, wisdon and love,
When only eternal things were made.
And it too, shall remain immortal.
Abandon all hope upon entering here!
[i]Blessed is the mind too small for doubt[/i]
Though I walk through the vally in the shadows of daemons, I shall fear nothing. For I am what the daemon fears.
Quoted verbtim from Dante's Inferno page 14 canto III
(interpreted by Sandow Birk and Marcus Sanders)
[i]Blessed is the mind too small for doubt[/i]
Though I walk through the vally in the shadows of daemons, I shall fear nothing. For I am what the daemon fears.
upholstery_imp wrote:Well that doesn't give everyone complete leniency to go running around in game using it! >.>
Because it lowers my opinion of you.. just a tad.
Thru your assertions and thusly to vast leniencies of philistines shall emotion be squandered and yea, though I may speak with a different tongue, does it make the words less of mind?
[i]I live yet do not live in me,
am waiting as my life goes by,
and die because I do not die.
- St John of the Cross.[/i]
