Hm, I was sorta following him in the first clip with the four points on community, but I lost him on the comments on Second Life. I tend to disagree with his negative thoughts on a shared history, particularly because I feel like I’ve experienced that in the past within online communities. I do agree more with the middle two points, though, as I believe that physical proximity and a sense of permanence aren’t typically happening in online communities. I would still argue for the value of these online communities, however.
Regarding Second Life, Shane said that the game is “utterly detached from physical realities” because it doesn’t involve a physical, flesh and blood human. I wonder about that, though. Should we not write books? Should we not preach sermons? Write letters? And on and on. I am confident that in most cases personal, intimate discipleship creates some of the most effective change, but I must concede to the value of these other mediums of communication which do a pretty darn good job of impacting people in their journeys of following Jesus. Regardless, I do struggle with the question of whether or not it is appropriate to settle with a lesser method of doing ministry if it yields some positive results.
Hm, I was sorta following him in the first clip with the four points on community, but I lost him on the comments on Second Life. I tend to disagree with his negative thoughts on a shared history, particularly because I feel like I’ve experienced that in the past within online communities. I do agree more with the middle two points, though, as I believe that physical proximity and a sense of permanence aren’t typically happening in online communities. I would still argue for the value of these online communities, however.
Regarding Second Life, Shane said that the game is “utterly detached from physical realities” because it doesn’t involve a physical, flesh and blood human. I wonder about that, though. Should we not write books? Should we not preach sermons? Write letters? And on and on. I am confident that in most cases personal, intimate discipleship creates some of the most effective change, but I must concede to the value of these other mediums of communication which do a pretty darn good job of impacting people in their journeys of following Jesus. Regardless, I do struggle with the question of whether or not it is appropriate to settle with a lesser method of doing ministry if it yields some positive results.
I think that Shane here is underestimating some of the possibilities in virtual community, especially virtual community in Second Life. Our own group has established quite a “shared history” and I’ve posted about it here: http://anglicanecumenicalbiblestudy.blogspot.com/2009/03/quick-response-to-shane-hipps.html
- one of the leaders, Wilfried Ansome