Many Americans — some traditionally religious, some religiously unaffiliated — are increasingly finding a sense of community through virtual reality.
Attendance was scant for the first year as Soto often found himself preaching to just a handful of people at a time, most of them atheists and agnostics who were more interested in debating about faith. His congregation has since grown to about 200 people, and he has ordained other ministers remotely from his Virginia home and baptized believers who are unable to leave their houses because of illnesses.“The future of the church is the metaverse,” Soto said. “It’s not an anti-physical thing.
“One of the reasons we’ve become so popular is you get the meditation that you need, but you get the community also,” Nickel said. “We have deep relationships, hundreds of people from around the world who know each other and wonder, ‘Is your dog, OK? How’s your wife?’” On a recent Sunday, he preached at a cavernous virtual cathedral, its long halls illuminated by light from stained-glass windows. A colorful assembly of avatars listened to the sermon: A giant banana sitting in the first pew next to another of a man in a shirt and tie, plus a mushroom, a fox, armored knights.
Another, represented by a robotlike avatar and the username UncleTuskle, said that “as a person with social phobia, it’s easier for me to be here” than in a physical church. She wept the first time she attended a VR Church service, knowing immediately that she had found a home. Delp was taken by the community’s judgment-free ethos and focus on “God’s love rather than fear.” She began to volunteer with small groups, and eventually became a pastor.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meta's upgraded 3D avatars work across Facebook, Instagram and VR | EngadgetMeta has rolled out new 3D avatars you can use across Facebook, Instagram and VR, giving you the same look wherever you are..
Read more »
Paloma Faith having a 'crisis' in her personal life amid anxiety battleAfter a brief break from social media, Paloma Faith returned to Instagram on Saturday with a very candid update about the 'cluster f**k' of a 'personal crisis' she is currently going through
Read more »
Virtual Workouts, Real Sweat: Exercising in the Metaverse With the Meta Quest 2What’s it like to work out in the metaverse? With the Meta Quest 2 headset and virtual-reality apps, you can burn a lot of calories. Just mind the motion sickness.
Read more »
The Metaverse will change the live music experience, but will it be decentralized?Time to rock on in the Metaverse! Will concerts held in the virtual space become the catalyst to the mass adoption of DAOs and NFTs?
Read more »
Fidelity seeks approval for 2 more crypto-metaverse ETFsDo you want more crypto ETFs? You got it. Fidelity wants to make two new crypto and metaverse-related funds.
Read more »
‘This Is Creating More Loneliness': The Metaverse Could Be a Serious Problem for Kids, Experts SayBusinesses nationwide are scrambling to gain a toehold in the metaverse. Some psychologists and mental health experts say that’s dangerous, especially for kids.
Read more »