In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1
Enter man, woman and the snake (whether it took 6 days or 600 million years). Nothing was the same afterward. From that first moment in the Garden, at the snake's cunning coercion, man has been trying to usurp God's role, avert His authority and take his place as ruler of the universe. The tower of Babel was an attempt to rise as high as God. Numerous historic leaders like Caesar and Hitler have doled out life and death at will. Genetic engineering allows parents the ability to pick their baby's eye color. Medical science seeks to alter God-given gender.
And now, key Palo Alto players are parading themselves as Zeus to create a new universe.
The Metaverse.
In this inner-space, people can recreate themselves as avatars or emojis. "Avatars" as a Hindu concept are defined as deities who manifest themselves on earth in bodily form. We all can create our preferred personality, physical traits and talents with emoji applications available on google play or the apple store.
Apple.
The object that facilitated the first rebellious act against God. The bite in that fatal fruit was to "open one's eyes and make them like God," so Satan promised Adam and Eve.
The metaverse is just an ancient idea contemporized by the most powerful people on the planet. Digital dictators who decree the value of our currency. Corporate demigods who compete with other platforms, companies, and websites to get your eyes looking at them the longest.
We are complicit worshippers of these 21st-century deities. And they know everything about us--except maybe the number of hairs on our head and the amount of tears we cry.
Sadly, the Church has launched into the orbit of this new universe. What Covid-19 restrictions inseminated with video streamed church services, the metaverse has consummated. Now you can join a church that is entirely online, with no physical or real-world location. Your avatar will attend virtually, free from blemishes and wrinkles and always in perfect behavior. (1)
The Christian Church, which is by definition an interactive body of believers living out their faith in the real world will be reduced to emojis, memes and comments via cyber forums.
I believe humans desire more substance that the illusive world of the metaverse. Where art is no longer a skill honed over years to produce fine sculpture, paintings and music. But has been demeaned to a digital code in the form of non-fungible tokens or NFTs.
Try as culture may, emojis and air hugs cannot replace physical and emotional warmth, a gentle embrace and expressive nuance. Avatars cannot fix our facial flaws. Web profiles cannot redeem who we really are.
It will take a Herculean effort to escape this cultural cosmic storm. Only the strong will get up and rejoin the human race,
come back to earth and live face-to-face.
(1) 'Breakpoint' from The Colson Center, WRMB, 2-18-22
