The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site
The metaverse attracts considerable attention in politics, economy, society and culture. Unfortunately, seminaries and churches are still in their early stages of missiological research and understanding the metaverse. If we understand the metaverse as a digital mission field, research on the missi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Radboud University Press
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Ecclesial Futures |
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| Online Access: | https://ecclesialfutures.org/article/view/13666 |
| _version_ | 1797346799423324160 |
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| author | Sung Hyuk Nam |
| author_facet | Sung Hyuk Nam |
| author_sort | Sung Hyuk Nam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The metaverse attracts considerable attention in politics, economy, society and culture. Unfortunately, seminaries and churches are still in their early stages of missiological research and understanding the metaverse. If we understand the metaverse as a digital mission field, research on the missiological approach is required. We should pay attention to the infinitely expanding and integrating metaverse. Overseas, there is already a history of experimental challenges and settlements from decades ago on the potential for churches in virtual spaces. While online churches are famous in Korea, there is insufficient understanding of ways to meet the younger generation of non-believers in the metaverse. Since online churches are analogue enterprises, there is a massive gap between them and the digital younger generation. Paul Hiebert’s critical contextualization is still valid in approaching the metaverse as a digital mission field. Heidi Campbell’s study of the relationship between media and religions, “religious-social shaping approach to technology” reminds Korean churches of the value of the metaverse as a new media. Both theories show Korean churches need dialogue and patience when approaching the metaverse to contact non-believers. Missiological discussions on the metaverse should promote a holistic understanding in which the two worlds closely relate rather than a dualistic understanding. The digital living space
of the MZ generation that emerged with the development of new technology does not conflict with the nature of the Christian Church. Therefore, Korean churches need to understand the metaverse as a space of mission and coexistence.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:37:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a5b14f5e0dc497295db941b50b521c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2770-6656 2770-6664 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:37:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Radboud University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecclesial Futures |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a5b14f5e0dc497295db941b50b521c12024-01-25T11:36:43ZengRadboud University PressEcclesial Futures2770-66562770-66642023-06-014110.54195/ef13666The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary SiteSung Hyuk Nam0Korean Presbyterian Church The metaverse attracts considerable attention in politics, economy, society and culture. Unfortunately, seminaries and churches are still in their early stages of missiological research and understanding the metaverse. If we understand the metaverse as a digital mission field, research on the missiological approach is required. We should pay attention to the infinitely expanding and integrating metaverse. Overseas, there is already a history of experimental challenges and settlements from decades ago on the potential for churches in virtual spaces. While online churches are famous in Korea, there is insufficient understanding of ways to meet the younger generation of non-believers in the metaverse. Since online churches are analogue enterprises, there is a massive gap between them and the digital younger generation. Paul Hiebert’s critical contextualization is still valid in approaching the metaverse as a digital mission field. Heidi Campbell’s study of the relationship between media and religions, “religious-social shaping approach to technology” reminds Korean churches of the value of the metaverse as a new media. Both theories show Korean churches need dialogue and patience when approaching the metaverse to contact non-believers. Missiological discussions on the metaverse should promote a holistic understanding in which the two worlds closely relate rather than a dualistic understanding. The digital living space of the MZ generation that emerged with the development of new technology does not conflict with the nature of the Christian Church. Therefore, Korean churches need to understand the metaverse as a space of mission and coexistence. https://ecclesialfutures.org/article/view/13666MetaverseContextualizationDigitalMZ GenerationAnalog |
| spellingShingle | Sung Hyuk Nam The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site Ecclesial Futures Metaverse Contextualization Digital MZ Generation Analog |
| title | The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site |
| title_full | The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site |
| title_fullStr | The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site |
| title_short | The Metaverse as a Digital Missionary Site |
| title_sort | metaverse as a digital missionary site |
| topic | Metaverse Contextualization Digital MZ Generation Analog |
| url | https://ecclesialfutures.org/article/view/13666 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sunghyuknam themetaverseasadigitalmissionarysite AT sunghyuknam metaverseasadigitalmissionarysite |