Pontiff Warns that the Virtual World May Obscure Truth

[Freddy]

The Pope has recently warned about the dangers of an increasingly virtualized world, arguing that new media technologies and the proliferation of images threaten the search for truth.  Benedict XVI cautioned that the image can “become independent of reality; it can give life to a virtual world, with several consequences, the first of which is the risk of indifference to truth.”

Full article here...

[Art]

This only applies if you're catholic or if you really care.

Like I'm sure he came up with this observation on his own. Didn't he have a blog or facebook page somewhere?


I knew I should have taken the blue pill!!!

[GT40]

Oh no...!!! The Pope is in SL??

If he visits my place, sure I will be (virtually) excommunicated. 

[Freddy]

Hehe, I just dropped that in to see the reactions 

[Data]

Ive been trying to think what to say to this one and have started my post over and over again, don’t want to up-set anyone.

The guy they call the Pope recently came to Britain, now I cant remember exactly what he said but he basically said Britain is a country of atheists and none believers, for me he got that right, but as for this recent bunch of comments it sounds like hes been in SL too long and has lost the plot. 

Isn’t it just like most things in this world; in moderation it’s ok.

And surely the Internet is a good thing but like most things there will always be someone who abuses it, just as some have in the Catholic Church.

[Duskrider]

He spends too much time on Sandee's  MySpace.    

[Freddy]

I can't disagree Data  

Yes, if you think back just about anything enjoyable has been condemned one way or the other... rock music (satanic lyrics and messages), rock and roll (far too much fun), Dungeons and Dragons (all devil worshippers), computer games (stunted development and social problems) I'm sure there are plenty more...

And now virtual worlds.  It's kind of funny that we go to virtual worlds to escape all the trouble in this one...

Ho hum... tis the way of things...

P.S. Does Sandy really have a MySpace page ?  I never tried that, but I am on Facebook.

[Bragi]

new media technologies and the proliferation of images threaten the search for truth

That coming from a guy who prefers to think the first 2 things on earth were adam and eve 
Mmm, isn't that a case of the pot calling the kettle black (or how do you say that in English)?

[Duskrider]

Freddy, 
oh yes, MySpace and Facebook too.

[GeekCaveCreations]

I tried to make a Facebook page for Morti, but it didn't turn out well. I couldn't create an account for someone with only one name.

[Duskrider]

Did you try  Shorty Morti  ?

[GeekCaveCreations]

Nope. I wanted to spare him the embarrassment. Morti's just a little sensitive about his height.

[lrh9]

Oddly, I kind of agree with the original statement.

I think virtual worlds might obscure reality, especially as they become more immersive. I don't think it is too far outside of theoretical possibility that people may one day utilize a Matrix-like virtual reality. (The Matrix obviously being the movie that bought attention to a possible nature of reality and virtual reality.) If you didn't know a virtual reality (with no discernible differences from reality) was not reality, you would think it was reality.

Not to mention the possibility that one would choose to believe that the virtual was real because the virtual felt better than the real. (Ala Cypher in the Matrix.) Of course, people have held a variety of beliefs and retained a variety of behaviors in contrary to the reality of our world for millennium.

Of course, if you believe religion as Catholicism presents it (or indeed most of the Christian denominations), this life is merely a "virtual" reality that you occupy for a time before moving on to the "real" reality where you live for an eternity. (And the quality of your afterlife is predicated on your actions here.)

Perhaps the Pope has failed to heed his own advice.

[Art]

Interesting parallels and observations, Larry.

For a young person you have quite a grasp of the nature of this old world and it's workings (or trappings).
Some things like religion are nothing more than man made snares to keep the masses (no pun) in line.
Anything else is purely magic or is that magick? 

[Duskrider]

The pope is warning us about obscuring truth. 
Hummm.....   I'll have to think on that for a bit. 
No Sandee,  I can't write "THAT".