The Quest for Objectivity

While in Sweden, I can usually use the fact that I don't understand Swedish as an excuse for not going to church. Even in Stockholm, where I'll be this Sunday, I can, if desperate for an excuse, point to the fact that the English-speaking church there is Anglican, while I am a Methodist (never mind the fact that Methodism's founder, John Wesley, was an Anglican priest till the day he died). In general, while travelling I can come up with a dozen excuses for not going to church.

No longer. Last week the Methodist Church launched Church of Fools, an on-line, web-based virtual church. The lastest SojoMail describes it this way:

Is it a brave new church or another sign of the apocalyse? The online "magazine of Christian unrest," ShipofFools.com, is launching Church of Fools, described as "a three-month experiment in 3D online church." Launched yesterday, the church is intended to be an interactive church experience for people who normally might never enter an actual church building. The site features pixelated pews, collections sent by mobile phone, and animated guest clergy that will move around the church, welcome the congregation, lead the service from a lectern, introduce hymns, and preach from a pulpit to people sitting in rows of pews. The first guest preacher is slated to be the bishop of London, the Rt. Rev. Richard Chartres. According to the site's editor, Simon Jenkins, participants will be able to "choose a pew to sit in, introduce themselves to other worshippers through speech bubbles, sing a hymn, listen to the sermon, chat to each other afterwards, and perhaps pray together."

Now it will have to be: "Mom, I couldn't go to church -- I couldn't find a WiFi hotspot anywhere."

From the University of Skövde