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davywavyI don't know if you've come accross it already, but allow me to point you to ship of fools, which describes itslf a a periodical for people who prefer their organised religion disorganised. Browsing round the site will get you novelties like the Archbishop of Canterbury cuddly toy, but the best thing on the site is the online church.
Naturally I was intrigued and so I went to have a look
Apparently the online church is as serious as such a project could be expected to be (complete with backing from the Methodists and sermons from the Bishop of London), taking the form of an online applet which interacts in much the same way as many internet chatrooms or even The Sims. Picking for myself the icon that made me look like Ned Flanders, I went for a look around and found myself completely charmed by the whole thing. I explored and failed to find any secret areas or the BFG, and then had an argument with an American Evo about evolution, before chatting to other people and looking at the online religoius iconography scattered about the place.
Then I noticed an option to make a small donation to the project by text message and was tempted. Under normal circumstances you won't find me giving money to any charity that doesn't involve Tigers somewhere, but I found the whole concept so entertaining and fun that I succumbed and made a small donation via text.
That was a week ago.
Wandering down the street yesterday, I got a text back from them:
Thank you for your donation. Your faith is importance to us. Please Hold. Your prayers are in a queue and will be answered shortly.
That made me laugh out loud, and it's amazing how a good laugh can really make something seem endearing. I can't help but think ifg your average church demonstrated this much of a sense of humour, mainstream religion wouldn't have half the problems attracting people that it does.
Naturally I was intrigued and so I went to have a look
Apparently the online church is as serious as such a project could be expected to be (complete with backing from the Methodists and sermons from the Bishop of London), taking the form of an online applet which interacts in much the same way as many internet chatrooms or even The Sims. Picking for myself the icon that made me look like Ned Flanders, I went for a look around and found myself completely charmed by the whole thing. I explored and failed to find any secret areas or the BFG, and then had an argument with an American Evo about evolution, before chatting to other people and looking at the online religoius iconography scattered about the place.
Then I noticed an option to make a small donation to the project by text message and was tempted. Under normal circumstances you won't find me giving money to any charity that doesn't involve Tigers somewhere, but I found the whole concept so entertaining and fun that I succumbed and made a small donation via text.
That was a week ago.
Wandering down the street yesterday, I got a text back from them:
Thank you for your donation. Your faith is importance to us. Please Hold. Your prayers are in a queue and will be answered shortly.
That made me laugh out loud, and it's amazing how a good laugh can really make something seem endearing. I can't help but think ifg your average church demonstrated this much of a sense of humour, mainstream religion wouldn't have half the problems attracting people that it does.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-24 01:10 am (UTC)I'll post a link to the article (if I remember) when I get home tonight.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-24 05:35 am (UTC)A fool and his money...
Date: 2004-05-24 02:02 pm (UTC)Re: A fool and his money...
Date: 2004-05-24 02:43 pm (UTC)Ah, but it still requires a belief in God...
Date: 2004-05-24 02:08 pm (UTC)