What's so strange about Satan hurling abuse from a pulpit in Church?
It was with great interest that I read about the
recent events at the Methodist Church of Britain's first 'online church',
www.churchoffools.com (see http://shipoffools.com/church). First let me say a
few words about this church, and then a brief comment on the particular incident
that prompts this entry.The Church of
Fools is a project of the Methodist Church in England. In essence it is an
online congregation in which one can participate through taking on a virtual
form (generally known as an avatar - which in itself is a rather bold
theological statement, taking into account how loaded the term avatar is due to
its connection with the Hindu religion). The website describes it as a "cross
between a computer game and an 11th century Romanesque sanctuary". Here is a
snapshot I took whilst in the church.
What is incredibly positive
about this Church is that it allows one to enter into some form of simulated
interaction with people in an, ostensibly, Christian environment. Sermons are
preached, people can come and pray, speak with one another, find comfort,
inspiration, solace and support. It is open all day and night (unlike most
modern churches), and on the few occasions that I 'attended' the church it was
very well attended! In fact so well attended that once or twice I had to enter
anonymously (another rather interesting observation on the way in which
technology mirrors 'meat space' church life - how many people enter into the
Church anonymously?) I would encourage you to take a look around, it certainly
is a VERY innovative and creative way to generate interest in a form of
Christian engagement that is facing serious challenges in a decentralized, and
secularized, society. In fact I find this to be a most creative and applaudable
use of communication and information
technology.The down side for me is
that even though such an endeavor can go some way towards simulating fellowship
and interaction, it most certainly is not a replacement for the necessity and
engagement of actual human interaction. For one thing, the environment is
deliberately false, since it is a stereotyped representation of an English
parish Church (complete with crypt, elevated pulpit and pews). Also, the
avatars are fairly expressionless and all adult (if I remember correctly).
Whilst I was able to engage at some level with a few fellow worshipers there was
certainly no sense of the general connectedness and unity that one feels when
entering a 'real' church building, singing, praying and considering scripture
together with others. It seemed a lot more like a person entering a shopping
mall, watching with interest the activities of those around you, occasionally
engaging someone in conversation and then leaving. I admit that I have not yet
stayed for a sermon. I would be most interested to experience such an event.
Despite these issues, I do believe that this is a wonderful way to reach out to
people who occupy a whole new realm of reality, cyberspace. If we have
cybermalls and cyber chatrooms, why not a cyber
church!?What prompted this entry is
the hubbub that has been caused by the actions of a person who logged in as a
normal worshipper and then identified himself as Satan. No comment on the fact
that he was 'disguised' as a normal worshiper. Well, OK, I have to say it. I
have met many a Satan disguised as a normal worshiper in some of the Churches
that I have served in. These are generally sweet and harmless looking people
who can be the cause of much hurt, insecurity, brokenness and general evil,
through their deliberate acts of sabotage and
disinformation.But, back to Satan in
the Church of fools. The article on the Church of fools website
(http://shipoffools.com/church/stories/story_6.html) starts by saying, "It's not
every day you encounter Satan in the pulpit of a church". Of course the
statement is true in some senses. Yes, I don't encounter Satan in the pulpit
EVERY DAY. However, it is also untrue in that it suggests that the pulpit is a
place of holiness and purity. This simply is not true. The pulpit (as with
Satan in disguise as an ordinary member of the church) has often been used to
express some of the most evil thoughts and ideas in history. South Africa has a
particularly shameful past in this regard, where the Dutch Reformed Church often
used it's pulpits to prop up and sanction the policies of racial discrimination,
known as Apartheid, that caused a great deal of pain and destruction in our
land. I am pleased that Satan made an appearance so early in the life of the
cyber Church. It reminds us of the reality of the true Church, broken,
infiltrated, and yet in spite of this an instrument of healing, truth and
grace!Of course, as with all churches,
this indiscretion has lead to the development of certain policies and
procedures. The pulpit is no longer open to the public, a thing that I'm sure
the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley - who encouraged the work of
the laity, might not have sanctioned too easily.
However, as I said, this is a very positive
move on the internet! I would like to close this entry with the last two
paragraphs from the article on the website (listed
above).One week into our
experiment, and we are encountering bigger issues than a pantomime Devil. On
the plus side, 8,000 people are entering Church of Fools each day (that's a
cathedral sized congregation), and there are some lively theological discussions
in the crypt and heartfelt prayers being exchanged. On the minus side are
sorties by small groups who want to post racist slogans, religious abuse and
experience the joy of shouting "fuck" in a
church.We think the
Methodist Church (who are sponsoring the project) has a good role model: John
Wesley, who did the unthinkable in the 18th century and took preaching out of
the churches and into the fields and streets, where people were. He was pelted
with eggs and abuse for his trouble. We're interested in the same sort of
thing: taking church to where people are - on the Net - even if it means
virtual eggs are going to
fly.Hear, hear! My last comment
is simply this.... Unfortunately you have to be a Windows user, or have MS
Internet Explorer for Mac to enter the Church.... It doesn't work with Safari.
How discriminatory is that !! ;-) One day we will all know the
truth....
It's all been said....
Posted: Fri - May 28, 2004 at 06:26 PM
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Published On: Jun 10, 2004 01:38 PM
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