Exploring the Transformative Role of Virtual Cosmos in Religion

A university professor has highlighted the transformative potential of the Virtual Cosmos in religious practices, particularly within Hinduism. However, some Christian believers seem to hold differing views on the matter.

Despite the Virtual Cosmos’s immense potential to open a new world brimming with opportunities and possibilities, it remains an uncharted territory. This is partly because its projects have recently been overshadowed by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other blockchain projects. Typically, when the topic shifts to the Virtual Cosmos industry, the immediate applications that come to mind include gaming, entertainment, education, training, e-commerce, social media, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction.

Yet, some are now elevating the advantages that Virtual Cosmos offers in religious practices. This has sparked debate within certain religious circles about its appropriateness in the current context.

Professor Sreevas Sahasranamam of the University of Glasgow recently outlined several scenarios in an interview with ‘Swarajya’ magazine, demonstrating the transformative role of Virtual Cosmos in religion. The focus of the discussion was its application within Hinduism.

The professor suggested that the Virtual Cosmos could provide Hindu practitioners with a transcendent sense of immersion, allowing them to delve into the teachings of Sanskrit epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, as well as other significant scriptures and themes in ancient Indian religion. He proposed a framework that integrates the metaverse with micro-language AI models, trained based on evaluations provided by the epic texts, to amplify the user experience, akin to ‘Mahabharata in the Metaverse’ platforms like BharatBox and Mythoverse.

For a religion followed by 15% of the world’s population, this could deepen the faith of believers and potentially attract more followers to its fold.

Conflicting Views on the Subject Nevertheless, other religious figures are less enthusiastic about allowing people to participate in religious programs or gatherings solely through the Virtual Cosmos. This is the case despite broadcasting and television becoming major mediums for disseminating religions like Christianity over the past decades.

Pastors Gavin Ortlund and Jay Kim have expressed support for this stance. For them, certain aspects of the Catholic faith require personal participation, such as the seven sacraments. They added that the experience and essence of other key Christian activities might also be lost if the physicality of the community is stripped away.

The pastors’ viewpoint contrasts sharply with the Vatican’s warm reception of the technology, which led to a joint Virtual Cosmos Non-Fungible Token (NFT) art exhibition with Sensorium Galaxy in 2022. The epistemology of the Pontifical Lateran University of the Vatican is another testament to the Holy See’s active involvement in Web3, as it has organized multiple activities related to the field and authored books on the technology.

On the other hand, an official statement from the Vatican on the use of Virtual Cosmos in religion has yet to be heard, although Pope Francis has released cautiously worded messages outlining the advantages and ethical implications brought by its rival technology, artificial intelligence.

Sentiment: Positive