What next for a Cathedral near you?
After crazy golf in Rochester Cathedral, the helter skelter in Norwich Cathedral and a semi-nude fashion show in Southwark Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral is to trial video games on Sunday 13th October as an "aid to spirituality".
Hat tip to Llandaff Diocese for this revelation in a tweet picked up from their web site:
"Talk about fully embracing digital! Sounds like a great idea 👍 - How video games can offer new spiritual experiences to church congregations. The contribution that interactive media offers the faith setting is similar to poetry or beautiful music."
"Talk about fully embracing digital! Sounds like a great idea 👍 - How video games can offer new spiritual experiences to church congregations. The contribution that interactive media offers the faith setting is similar to poetry or beautiful music."
How long before artificial grass is laid in the cathedral nave with chairs around the perimeter to watch indoor games, popping up to the altar at half time for refreshment?
When I went to Exeter last year for Evensong they didn't even bother to turn off the loud video guide display which could be heard during the service. Had to leave due halfway through due to other aberrations.
ReplyDeleteWhether you approve of this or not, it isn't new - especially at Exeter, which used a video game in worship way back in 2012 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-18093254) and seem to have run their "Holy Ground Fresh Expression" for some time on the 2nd Sunday evening of the month. The Cathedral’s schedule for that day also includes Holy Communion, Morning Prayer, Choral Mattins, Choral Eucharist with Confirmations and Evening Prayer so you can hardly accuse it of ignoring its Anglican tradition!
ReplyDeleteEqually there is a growing interest in the use of Video Games to explore spirituality (a Grove Booklet was written about it a couple of years ago but I suspect there is more substantial literature too); we know that films and literature can be ways of exploring profound issues and it certainly seems that video games provide another avenue, especially for young people used to their immersive culture.
I know you would think that this is a gimmick; I wouldn't agree as I think it is a genuine and - dare I say - theologically aware attempt for people who would never dream of coming to "ordinary" services to reflect on spiritual matters. After all, St. Paul in 1 Cor, 9:22 talks about his different evangelistic approaches to different groups so that “by all means” he might win people to Christ!
Cathedral striptease next on your reasoning, poor off-the-rails Baptist Trainfan.
DeleteRob
Apologies to Fr David Lloyd for deleting the following comment in error:
ReplyDelete"Best way to publicise your cathedral and show the relevance of Jesus Christ to people of all ages in 2019? Show photographs of the cathedral full of christians supporting over 70 confirmands last week in Llandaff. Interview the newly confirmed and ask them why they travelled far and wide by coach to go against everything the secular world tells us is “cool.” Print some of the short faith autobiographies they took time to write. Doesn’t the Church pay a large salary to someone to do all this? We have pictures of witches with an Archbishop... why is it not worth putting the BEST religious event since the days of Bp Roy on our own website? Is it because such joy sends a message to the “management” and their lackeys that we’ve been doing everything wrong and actually repentance and a return to the faith of the apostles is the REAL way to go?
Fr David Lloyd"
PP. It will x factor in the chancel, or "I'm a Bishop get me out of here" ! There again, why not have the diocesan tiller girls, instead of the Introit, or the clergy acrobatics troop. I'm sure the 6 chapters could compete for the provincial archiopiscopal Cup!
ReplyDeleteOf course, churches and cathedrals have, historically, been used for all sorts of secular purposes without, apparently, detracting from them as 'sacred spaces' … surely what matters is that the integrity of the worship is maintained and not compromised? (NotGoneYet)
ReplyDelete"The Cathedral Games"? "Mortal Combat XO"? "Altar Call of Duty"? "Grand Theft Cathedra"?
ReplyDeletePaintball in the Lady Chapel?
DeleteGrand Theft Cathedra? Would this be a game based on the Llandaff Organ Fund appeal?
DeleteSeymour