Internet-based church making its mark

The Church of Fools has attracted major attention as the world’s first internet-based church. Sponsored by the Methodist Church of Great Britain, the internet church has the serious purpose of trying to increase coverage of church services using modern information technology.

However, the church has received huge attention recently for the several incidents involving online users using “shout” functions to address the congregation with words inappropriate for a regular church. The game-like graphics of the cathedral complete with stained glass windows, gothic arches, pews and a crypt has made the internet church too entertaining for some individuals. Some had previously used their animated figures to put on shows during the services as well as wondering into the pulpit areas during services. Moreover, some people have questioned the effectiveness of such virtual Sunday services and virtual prayers.

The shipoffools.com website has pointed out, though, that the internet church is for individuals “on the edges (and beyond) of faith.” One person wrote to shipoffools.com saying, "I have a friend who has claimed not to believe in God for many years. He had a crisis this week and wanted a place to try a prayer. No way would he ever go to a real church. But he went to yours, said his first prayer in many years and told me he felt much better afterwards.”

One self-proclaimed Satanist wrote shipoffools.com in response to inappropriate Satanic praise, “I have been Satanist all my life and would never have pulled any such thing. So, for all the immature twits within the Satanic community, [Church of Fools] has my sympathies as I truly hope to see you fix the problem soon.”

The services themselves can be heart-moving, but with so many users logging on now, it might be easier to enter a real church.