“Virtual reality has provided a free zone for cybersex, porn, and trolling. But that same freedom, D.J Soto believes, can also provide a place where sinners and the saved can come together for an open and profound conversation about faith.” – JESSICA CHOU
Recent innovations have provided more consumer-friendly virtual reality opportunities to a wide range of users. While some may use the technology in what pastor D.J. Soto says to be sinful ways, he also believes the platform can be used to spread the message of faith. After trying out the Oculus Rift back in 2016, the Reading, PA megachurch preacher decided to take his electrifying virtual reality experience to nearly unchartered territory: Church!
Unlike BelieveVR or Second Life, Soto’s VR Church slowly became a success. He knows that Christians are called to reach all people in all corners of the earth, including the atheists that often attend his online church services on the AltSpaceVR platform. However, for his church to be a success, he will have to expand to different virtual reality platforms in the future, especially in the ever-changing technological world. That is a challenge Soto is willing to take on to spread the Good News.
Other religions might have a harder time adjusting to and incorporating a virtual church experience. The Catholic church believes in the sacraments and being in true community with one another is a key component to successful congregations. Thus, back in 2002, the pope declared no sacraments can be made online or virtually. Over time as other denominations have declared they would be increasing their online presence, media and church members have made harsh criticisms.
Nonetheless, Soto is set on reaching his online church-goers. So many of them attend his virtual and more informal services regularly. They comment how much more welcoming the atmosphere is than that of the “hushed tones, muted colors, and high tight collars of Sunday best” they remember from their childhoods. The changing world we live in needs more pastors like Soto who are willing to reach all corners of the earth, even the virtual ones.
“‘What I saw in the scripture was a very open invitation to all types of people,’ Soto says. Ministry training, he found, did not line up with that vision.” – JESSICA CHOU
https://www.wired.com/story/virtual-reality-church/amp
https://www.oculus.com/experiences/gear-vr/1135979366469525/