[Boogieman]

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.

[Tell It Right]

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.

[Marchmain]

Not really. Form and matter. Water must flow over the forehead of baptised.