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Real pastor holds church in VR, baptises anime girl
PC Games ^ | 5/20/2019

Posted on 05/21/2019 1:27:01 PM PDT by Gamecock

Games reach an incredibly diverse set of people across national, linguistic, and social barriers, and that goes for religion, too. Last week, we noted that Ninja was taking meals off-screen out of respect for Ramadan, and it should be little surprise to see religious groups taking up residence inside virtual spaces. One Christian pastor now holds church in VRChat, and that even includes baptisms – no matter how ridiculous a person’s avatar.

Pastor D.J. Soto is the subject of a new video from YouTuber Syrmor (via Polygon), and the whole process is equal parts earnest and absurd. Soto describes his VR ministry as allowing disadvantaged people – from folks in wheelchairs to recovering drug addicts – to attend church without the judgement that sometimes comes from traditional congregations.

Fellow YouTuber Drumsy, appearing in VRChat as a busty, pink-haired anime girl in a pastel suit, undergoes a digital baptism by crouching underwater for a few seconds as Soto describes the symbolism of the ceremony. You can see Drumsy’s own perspective of the baptism on YouTube, or see Syrmor’s full video below.

After the baptism, a banana hugs Drumsy. A tiny cat asks how Drumsy feels – “I feel like I’m out of breath. I feel like I just had an experience.” Then SpongeBob hops into the baptism pool, soaks up all the water, and runs away.

It is, again, absolutely absurd and absolutely earnest. Soto himself has been retweeting these videos in between announcements of his VR church schedule, so even with some accounting for the wild gags in these videos, it seems he’s glad they’re out there.

Syrmor’s other videos similarly shine a light on the human element of VR, including casual chats on topics ranging from abusive families to homelessness and bullying.


TOPICS: Current Events
KEYWORDS: avatar; avatars; baptism; blessing; christianity; church; gamesgaming; pastor; videogames; virtuallife; virtualreality; vl; vr; vrc; vrchat
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1 posted on 05/21/2019 1:27:01 PM PDT by Gamecock
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2 posted on 05/21/2019 1:27:17 PM PDT by Gamecock (In church today, we so often find we meet only the same old world, not Christ and His Kingdom. AS)
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To: Gamecock
a busty, pink-haired anime girl in a pastel suit, undergoes a digital baptism by crouching underwater for a few seconds

And here you are without video?

3 posted on 05/21/2019 1:28:30 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: Gamecock

If you have a Virtual Reality baptism, will you go to a Virtual Reality Heaven?

Just virtually wonderin’.


4 posted on 05/21/2019 1:29:42 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd ( Import the third world and you'll become the third world.)
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To: Gamecock

Some would call that blasphemy, while others would call it just keeping up with the times.


5 posted on 05/21/2019 1:34:06 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: Gamecock
“I feel like I’m out of breath. I feel like I just had an experience.” Then SpongeBob hops into the baptism pool, soaks up all the water, and runs away.

Life is good.

6 posted on 05/21/2019 1:38:15 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: Gamecock

7 posted on 05/21/2019 1:39:21 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Gamecock

I have this odd feeling that this thread needs more Joe Biden. Or maybe tentacles.

Or maybe not.


8 posted on 05/21/2019 1:42:41 PM PDT by Kommodor (Terrorist, Journalist or Democrat? I can't tell the difference.)
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To: Gamecock

The stupidity that has infected our world is truly scary at this point.


9 posted on 05/21/2019 1:43:31 PM PDT by softengine
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To: lee martell

Some would call it bullsh!t...no all would call it bullsh!t. Baptizing soulless not feeling entities. Do not remember Johnthe Baptist baptizing rocks or drawings.


10 posted on 05/21/2019 1:43:47 PM PDT by Bommer (Help 2ndDivisionVet - https://www.gofundme.com/mvc.php?route=category&term=married-recent-amputeca)
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To: Bommer

“Baptizing soulless not feeling entities. “

...........................

May I ask how this is different in your view than this Catholic practice?

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=198

The blessing of a vehicle.

And they practice similar silly things.


11 posted on 05/21/2019 1:52:01 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: Bommer

Funny you should say ‘rocks’.
This event reminds me of a particular Japanese way of seeing the world, where literally every object has it’s own essence, consciousness and soul. Every tree, rock and river.
Buddhist influences are common.
The Japanese are also into Anime depiction, highly skilled and professional looking.

In a more mundane way, I recall a Japanese cartoon popular in the 1990’s called “Dragonball Z”. Dazzling and entertaining.
This was back when Xena the Warrior Princess was a big deal.


12 posted on 05/21/2019 1:58:59 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

Touche’!


13 posted on 05/21/2019 2:00:13 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: Bommer

Well, those “soulless not feeling entities” are just avatars, or stand-ins for real people on the other end of the internet. So there’s a weird metaphysical question here. Does the validity of the baptism depend on the external trappings (water, physical body, etc), or is it based on internal things going on in the mind and heart of the person receiving it? Or is it a combination of both?

It seems to me that Catholics normally put more importance on the external parts of the ceremonies than Protestants, but I think even Catholic theology would allow that something like this might be valid in a dire circumstance, if there was no opportunity for a more traditional baptism.


14 posted on 05/21/2019 2:08:29 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Gamecock

Stupidly reigns.


15 posted on 05/21/2019 2:14:15 PM PDT by WKUHilltopper
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To: Boogieman; Bommer
I, also a Protestant, kinda walk the line on symbolism vs. "external parts" of ceremonies. I think it'd do many of us Protestants some good to be a bit more liturgical in our worship activities, especially if we're used to a more sensational type worship. I also think Catholics would do well to have a worship service that's less liturgical so focus can be more spiritually inward (us Protestants might call it "being real").

I say use the VR for spreading the gospel like using any other medium. But think twice before using it for something like baptism.

We can all have a debate about things like how much water should be used for baptism and when it should be done (I lean towards dunking, and at an age of consent by the dunkee). But what we all should agree on is baptism is meant to be an outward sign to observers that hence forth you're dedicated to Jesus in a no-matter-what, no-matter-who kind of attitude. Doing that virtually where no one even knows who you are completely removes the public statement of baptism.

16 posted on 05/21/2019 2:17:53 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: humblegunner
And here you are without video?

Here ya go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh65Fj4lmRg

17 posted on 05/21/2019 2:49:25 PM PDT by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Yo-Yo

/facepalm

/facepalm /facepalm /facepalm /facepalm /facepalm


18 posted on 05/21/2019 2:55:53 PM PDT by TheZMan (I am a secessionist.)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

You apparently have no concept of the difference between a baptism and a blessing.


19 posted on 05/21/2019 3:01:26 PM PDT by ebb tide (We have a rogue curia in Rome)
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To: ebb tide

“You apparently have no concept of the difference between a baptism and a blessing.”

I do.

Nice try. Look for commonality.


20 posted on 05/21/2019 3:28:35 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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