Meta-sheep and the Metaverse
The Metaverse promises omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence:
all-powerful, all-knowing, and ubiquitous, digital sheep.
Nothing epitomizes “You Know Less Than You Don’t Know” as the Metaverse does. The future is cloudy; physical interactions will move to digital spaces inclusive or exclusive of spirituality. Unlike other leaders, Christian leaders are charged with watching over the souls of the sheep. How do they do so in both the physical and digital worlds? Shows like Upload promises to extend your soul by creating an afterlife where you can interact with the physical world. The Metaverse is following suit.
For many, the Metaverse represents a modern-day virtual Tower of Babel, where the convergence of people and things represent a one-world, uni-language force that is powerful in inception and application. For others, it represents a component of the eschatological conditions of humankind. For others still, it looks a lot like humans placing themselves in the role of their Creator, especially in three key facets that the Metaverse allows for omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence: all-powerful, all-knowing, and ubiquitous – digital sheep. How do leaders reconcile spirituality in these virtual worlds that eschew space/time/capabilities and barriers?
Versed in the ‘verse
The Metaverse is here, what does that mean for Christian leaders? It is imperative that you stake your claim in the Metaverse and decide what content, and tools you will provide to engage, educate, guide, and be responsive. This is an opportunity to be on the right side of history. More than ever, people will need the choice of a spiritual landing place that offers spiritual health and rest to make sense of what is happening in and out of the Metaverse. Think about how you want to show up in the Metaverse and do so sooner than later.
Christian leaders and institutions must become early adopters of the Metaverse to offer choices to their followers. Late adoption is not an option, as a society, already immersed on the Internet has cultivated an appetite for more interactivity in virtual worlds. Followers will certainly have more choices in mirror worlds where they can experience real-world events virtually. A corresponding countercultural presence must pervade to strike the needed balance between creating our worlds and our worlds creating us. Leaders must capitalize on social engineering such as confirmation biases; people believe what they want to believe. Hire up and skill up on digital technology; remember it is the user of the tool, rather than the tool itself that brings about transformational outcomes.
The GOAT of ATL
The scripture on people “running to and fro“, and knowledge increasing in the earth is evident. This running to and fro is an indicator of people looking for answers outside of themselves. Revisit and strengthen your core values and beliefs, as they are the springboard from which engagement with the Metaverse will occur. Remember weltanschauung…the framing and limiting aspects of your worldview will be at stake here. Known knowns are critical…knowing what you know is essential in making ethical choices. Just as the changing of the guard should be unobtrusive to core operations, so must entry into the Metaverse not be disruptive to core beliefs.
Christian leaders have an unprecedented opportunity to evangelize, convert physical meeting places into digital spaces, and skill up in the digital worlds. Christian leaders should lead with love and forgiveness as exemplified by the GOAT of Authentic Transformational Leadership, Jesus Christ. Through grace, Christians possess a supplementary system that transcends the knowledge domains…known knowns, known unknowns, unknown knowns, and unknown unknowns. The Metaverse represents the “creation groaning” in expectation of transformation. It is time for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed for all to see. Those who know their God shall do exploits.
Baden Bower News
Baden Bower
https://www.badenbower.com
news@badenbower.com
COMTEX_409271397/2776/2022-06-26T14:10:44
