MIGHT WE BECOME VIRTUAL HUMAN BEINGS?

Of course I wrote the most recent post 'REPOSITIONING FROM A REAL WORLD INTO A VIRTUAL WORLD,' because of virtual reality's fascination as well as the apprehensions it provokes. 

image credit to Ronn Torossian

I will dwell on some of those disquiets.  As people allow virtual reality to become integral to daily life, they may prefer their time spent in virtual places. It can be so compelling and realistic that reality is tedious and less desirable. If you can take a moment to look away from your own e-device or computer screen, you notice that the majority of people within range are already preoccupied with the escapism that their TV, game or internet, or smartphone afford them. As technology perfects the realism of virtual worlds, people may overuse it by total immersion. I get it. Real life experience can be so disappointing and unsatisfying, that the cognitive and emotional elements of the real world can be left behind, gladly.  When that occurs, the VR immersionist effectively stops desiring or needing real social interactions. In fact these will become increasingly foreign. I can now imagine an entire culture in which all occupants have no idea of the value and positive effects of real relationships and share real life experiences and emotions.     

We all seek escape now and then, by reading a book, by watching a show, by taking time off for a pleasurable adventure.  That's natural. If the paradigm shift is to escape into a virtual reality for most of each day, I question the normalcy of the choice. But then who is it who sets the standards and what are the criteria for normality.  Social creatures that we have been, we may become virtual hermits, recluses. Social engagement and social ethics and social consciences and moralities may all be sacrificed.  That sounds like a doomsday forecast, doesn’t it. Sorry.

REPOSITIONING FROM A REAL WORLD INTO A VIRTUAL WORLD

We are progressively repositioning from a real world into a virtual world. Or perhaps more accurately, we occupy more of our real world time with virtual realities. 

Our use of the term 'virtual' is no longer a simple concept. The weather report is that rain is a virtual certainty today. That is, rain is in effect but not in fact. It's close but not quite. Virtual, pronounce it ˈver-chew-el', means almost as described but not completely; very close to being something without actually being it. The term 'virtual' is used virtually all of the time, which is to say, it's used nearly but not quite, or frequently but not always, although it seems so.  The term virtual is complex now, and science and technology as pushed its boundaries. The adjective can also intimate artificial, imitation, even make-believe.

Virtual reality or realities (VR) may be computer or multimedia simulated replications of an imagined world or a real world which allow users to interact with sensory experiences such as sight, touch, hearing and smell.

DAVID BOWIE - CHRISTIANS HAVE NO CLAIM

Photo: Reuters

All of you Christian journalists and magazine editors, don't you dare try to claim some association between David Bowie and Christianity. You were always quick to denigrate his lifestyle, song content, drug use and personae. Yet I already bumped into a Christian Post article that said, "During his 40-plus-year career, Bowie, who experimented with Christianity and appears to have held on to parts of the experience …" What do any of us know about his pilgrimage other than by Bowie's own confessions. What is known is that he searched and dabbled. He told Ellen Degeneres in 2004 that he had experimented with several religions like Tibetan Buddhism, Neitzsche-ism, Judaism, Satanism, Christianity and "pottery" he amusingly added. Finally, he seemed to settle on singing as his faith.

HOW CAN I PAINT GOD

Imagination is integral to my craft as a painter. Suppose that I consider painting a picture of God, not as an idol to be worshipped but rather to tell God's story using visual imagery, how can I paint God when God is not observable? I am confounded. God is concealed, invisible. I have no model, nothing upon which to base a rendering. However, I remember that Jesus was a young adult when prayed the words, “our Father who lives in heaven.” Imagination encourages me to envision God the Father as at least one generation older than Jesus himself. Furthermore, in first century culture, men did not shave their beards so God likely had a long white beard. Would that seem plausible? It's highly unlikely. Let's say that it's at least convenient because it indulges the human mind that finds it easier to process the physical than the spiritual.

The famous Italian artist Michelangelo had no hesitation in painting a representation of God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. In his central scene of creation, Michelangelo painted God as a Caucasian white-bearded grandfatherly patriarchal figure extending his forefinger in a gesture by which he was imparting life to a newly created Adam. That was pure speculation and it was likely gloriously incorrect because no one has seen God the Father and the Bible says that God is spirit and we cannot assume God looks like a man. In fact the task of painting God is more problematic than any of us might imagine.