Cyber-Church Shuts Down After Four Experimental Months
Does technology have its limits for Christianity? To the younger Christian generation, a virtual online church would seem to be the next step for ones to find or expand on their faith.
Stephen Goddard and Simon Jenkins, co-founders of the Church of Fools, began the church as a three month experiment. Although, the church lasted a month longer than expected, the church shut downed on Sept. 26 due to lack of funding from the primary sponsor, the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
“‘Foolish’ was the reaction of some stalwart Methodists to the news that we were sponsoring the pilot stage of the Church of Fools,” said the Rev. Jonathan Kerry, coordinating secretary for worship and learning of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. “But many more have been delighted, intrigued and inspired by the project.” (UMC.org)
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The lead argument against the virtual church is the lack of physical interaction present in the churches we have today. Some contest that Christian faith is the communion of the people only achieved through the personal contact of speech, handshakes, and seeing someone’s face.
However, others believe the Church of Fools acts as an extension to the common physical church.
“I’m a Roman Catholic,” writes Filippo, a visitor from Italy. “I came into the church today, went down the aisle, knelt side by side with another guy (a Methodist), and we prayed together, in our two languages, to our one God.” (UMC.org)
The virtual church can act as a hub, bringing unity amongst different denominations.
Goddard and Jenkins continue to promote and raise funding for their Church of Fools.
