In a short essay, reproduced on Mark Brown's blog, Paul Fiddes provides a typically ellegant and thought provoking answer, summarised like this:
An avatar can receive the bread and wine of the Eucharist within the logic of the virtual world and it will still be a means of grace, since God is present in a virtual world in a way that is suitable for its inhabitants. We may expect that the grace received by the avatar will be shared in some way by the person behind the avatar, because the person in our everyday world has a complex relationship with his or her persona.
The discussion of this radical proposal by Second Lifers in the comments is as fascinating as Paul's neat "solution" to the theological issues. Wilfried for example was quick to object to the reification of the avatars that Paul seems to suggest. Rather, "We do not pray indirectly, through the avatars; the avatars are simply useful in providing an enhanced feeling of proximity..." In short Second Life is not a "virtual world" but a communications medium, presumably like any other. So, the question ceases to be: Is "virtual communion" a real communion? But becomes: Can communion opperate at a distance? Just like the question of whether a pastor can celebrate communion with congregants over a telephone or radio link - e.g. when the recipient is serving in the International Space Station.For Wilifried Second Life is NOT a virtual world. I agree. It is a means to make virtual presence richer, but the presence is a phenomenon of the "real world". Such presence can be local, when two or more people are present to each other in the same room. It can also be more distant, as when one of the persons is on a raised platform at some distance from the others, as in a typical church. Or more distant still, as mediated by a telephone rather than by direct sight and sound (or in the case of the church building direct sight and an electronic sound system). Other cases can easily be imagined on this spectrum. At what point does presence cease to be real and become virtual?
Labels: digital, distance, virtual.theology
¶ 10:16 PM
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Tim, perhaps my current series on the theology of Communion will help to answer your question. But I rather think that according to Catholic theology communion can operate virtually or at a distance, because there is no need actually to consume the elements. And presumably on the Zwinglian position I would expect of you as a Baptist the same is true. I think it is also true of us Anglicans, but I'm not sure yet.
I love the picture of "Communion To Go". It nicely complements the picture I posted here.
By 
Peter Kirk, at
July 29, 2009 8:40 AM
I don't want to address the complex issues of whether canines, felines etc... are more or less "members of the family" than brothers and sisters in Christ - both are only so in metaphorical (or spiritual) senses ;)
Photo from The NationalCourtesy Free Burma Rangers
- spend $200 for a Freeview set top box which will allow us to get free to air TV from the Sky dish
- spend $150 to get an aerial fitted
- send the money to Partners for the 4,000 villagers camping in the monsoon rains?
Canadians wishing to obtain a receipt for tax purposes should make donations at the Partners Canada website. www.partnersworld.ca
Americans wishing to obtain a receipt for tax purposes should make donations at the Partners USA website. www.partnersworld.org
Norwegians can find the information needed to make donations in Norway at: www.partnersnorge.no
Australians can find the information needed to make donations in Australia at: www.partnersworld.org.au
UK Residents can find the information needed to make donations in the UK at: www.partnersworld.org.uk
Labels: burma, cat, ethics, refugee
¶ 4:46 PM
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tim, for the record, i've got excellent freeview reception on rabbit ears. yes it's true. so, if you were going to spend on freeview, buy your next tv with a tuner already installed. i know it's a side issue and almost makes a mockery of what you are really getting at, but sometimes we buy what we think is necessary when it is indeed not.
We faced a choice during our move that had nothing to do with packing or even the things we own (too many, but that's another story ;).For the move, Quizzie (our cat - born a stray and somewhat nervous) went into a cattery. While she was there the vet looked her over as well as getting her vaccinations up to date. She has bad teeth and some gum disease. To fix this and to do a blood test to check on other possible health issues would cost $400 to $500 (even cleanng a cat's teth needs a general anesthetic).
At the same time, an Internally Displaced People's camp in Burma is under attack by Burmese government forces. Some 4,000 women and children have fled across the river to Thailand and there is a great need for basic supplies. So, assuming we have $500 we can spend what do we do? Prolong our beloved cat's life and make the next few years more pleasant for her? - After all we see her every day! Save the lives of a few refugees we may never meet?Labels: burma, cat, ethics, refugee
¶ 6:00 AM
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I enjoy having students read some of Dorothy Day's autobiography, the early leader of the Catholic Worker Movement who pioneered Christian hospitality networks in NYC and elsewhere. She chose voluntary poverty for practical, ethical, and philosophical reasons, arguing that sharing everything one has with others is morally superior to owning anything.
However, from a practical point of view, her hospitality house was dependent on contributions from those who did have financial resources. How does the idealism of Christian service balance with the hard realities of life?
This doesn't necessarily address your cat decision, of course. We tend to see our pet (a dog) as a member of the family, so I think we would pay the vet. That doesn't necessarily make it right, though. Do we need to be more willing to let go of things, of pets, and even of other people?
By Bryan, at
June 15, 2009 1:29 PM
Bob nominated me, thanks! Great company :)I move on Friday, and mark between packing :(
I nominate (if they have not yet been so honoured and I missed it in the recent weeks of mayhem):
- David (even though his latest redesign makes me cross-eyed :(
- Jim (just because it teases :)
- Judy (in the hopes she'll start posting again ;)
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Far too many people have received this award for me to accept it. But I'm glad to hear your reaction to my new redesign. You can see the classic version by clicking the sidebar.
By David Ker, at
June 16, 2009 11:50 PM
The real truth is that "Out of 144 countries, New Zealand is rated as the world's most peaceful land. It is followed by Denmark and Norway." at least according to the Radio Netherlands Worldwide report. So people, you can not only study with the lowest fees and lowest cost of living in the developed world, enjoy skiing, golfing, surfing and other hobbies at prices ordinary mortals can afford. Not only study at universities that regularly get rated in the top 50 or 100 worldwide, but also live while you study in the world's most peaceful country, while enjoying scenery that inspired the movie version of Lord of the Rings. Whatever are you waiting for?
Just to get you started here is a random picture from our holiday snapshots:
Labels: biblical.studies, nz, postgraduate, study
¶ 8:36 PM
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Goodness - comparing Jim West's accuracy to that of Wikipedia! Clearly, you don't plan to attend this year's SBL annual meeting.
By Judy Redman, at
June 11, 2009 1:21 PM
