Shifting Approaches
Asynchronous Session
Virtual Shambhala: Ritual and Role-play in Second Life
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jean-Paul Lafayette DuQuette
Religious groups have been active on the Internet since its inception. However, since the early 2000s, websites, message boards and blogs related to religion began to appear that created hubs for spiritually minded communities existing primarily or entirely within cyberspace. Online spaces lack many of the benefits of face-to-face communities, though, and the challenges community leaders have faced are reflected in the platforms they inhabit. Since 2003, Linden Lab’s avatar-based virtual world Second Life has provided unprecedented freedom and flexibility for its residents, providing religious communities with the permissions and design tools to produce immersive rituals and centers of worship. However, it is unclear what impact the use of avatars as often anonymous - sometimes entirely fictitious -intermediaries may have on virtual world spirituality; it appears that one’s relationship with one’s avatar and one’s role-play ethos may influence or overlap religious practice within some Second Life communities. This paper introduces the Shambhala Sanctuary in Second Life, a group that integrates role-play into its weekly Hindu, Wiccan and neo-pagan rituals. It compares Shambhala’s dynamic, multi-modal practice and enthusiastic community participation with other religious and role-play groups within Second Life. Implications are drawn related to best practices for religious communities within virtual worlds, as well as compatibility and de facto similarities between suspension of disbelief in role-play and belief in spiritual practice.
Featured Scientization and Religious Scientism in Won Buddhism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sergei Sevriugin
This research examines the cultural dynamics shaping the formation and practices of Won Buddhism as a transnational new religion movement (NRM). My primary emphasis is on the so-called ‘scientization,’ which signifies a contemporary tendency to incorporate scientific discourse into religious frameworks. I will explore how this process has played a pivotal role in the recent growth of Won Buddhism, as it seeks to establish legitimacy within ostensibly secular society, akin to other modern Buddhist organizations and the Mindfulness movement. My umbrella research question is as follows: What are the impacts and implications of the scientization of religion on belief systems, religious practices, and the relationship between science and religiosity? Under this falls sub-questions which provide further context specifically in the case of Won Buddhism: How does Won Buddhism and its members position themselves in regards of religion, science and secular society? Which means of communication and legitimization strategies do they focus on? How do they define religion and science? Therefore, the main objective of this project is to analyze strategies to legitimize activities of religious organizations such as Won Buddhism through appeals to science and related discourse. I identify the rhetoric and tensions it engages in to remain relevant for society. Understanding how Won Buddhism adapts its message and activities to resonate with diverse audiences in South Korea and New Zealand can unveil the evolving dynamics of religious reconceptualization in our increasingly interconnected and scientifically oriented world.
"I Experienced Divine Proximity Beyond Description": Media Narratives of Religious and Spiritual Motivation in Altruistic Kidney Donation
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Nechama Kirschenbaum Aviner
Non-direct (altruistic) kidney donations effectively treat end-stage renal failure, benefiting recipients and healthcare systems. Though rare globally, Israel leads in this practice, with most donors belonging to the various Jewish orthodox communities. To understand donor motivations, we conducted qualitative research content-analyzing magazines published online as well as printed and freely distributed by Matnat Chaim, an organization promoting altruistic kidney donations. The findings align with previous studies on donor motivations, highlighting the religious/spiritual aspect while providing deeper insight into the nature of this motivation. Kidney donation is portrayed as a profound and multidimensional religious and spiritual experience, which emerges from an ongoing dialogue between individuals' everyday routines and their desire to infuse life with transcendent meaning. Donation serves as an anchor of value and significance in donors' lives. Furthermore, it represents an expression of fervent faith in God and submission to divine will. Donors perceive their donation as a gift: a vehicle for spiritual elevation and for establishing a deep, intimate connection with their Creator. This promotional material strategically leverages both online digital platforms and traditional print media to convey a compelling religious narrative around kidney donation. Carefully crafted, these publications frame the act of donation as a pathway to a euphoric spiritual experience, and effectively communicate how the physical act of organ donation transcends into a deeply spiritual experience. This research's novel insights of the motives of altruistic donors imply that their decision is not solely based on an altruistic discourse, but also shaped by the desire for religious climax.
Spiritual Development Through Art: Can Creating Art Be a Vehicle for Spiritual Development, Contemplation and Prayer?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mano Sotelo
This paper explores the transformative relationship between religion, art, and spiritual development, using my illustrated book The War in Heaven as a case study to demonstrate how the creation of art can serve as a profound vehicle for contemplation, prayer, and self-realization. By examining art as a spiritual practice, it highlights how artistic creation, when approached with intention, can facilitate a deeper connection to the divine and nurture spiritual growth. The discussion delves into how artwork creation can parallel meditation and prayer techniques to enter states of mindfulness and reflection. In The War in Heaven, the intentional act of creation itself became a form of prayer, enabling a deeper understanding of spiritual truths through visual storytelling. Ultimately, the session encourages an understanding of art as a sacred practice, where personal reflection and contemplation intersect, providing a path to self-realization leading to spiritual enlightenment and deeper awareness. Visual art can transcend the material, offering a sacred space for both the artist and the viewer to engage in spiritual exploration.
