Ethical and Religious Challenges within Metaverse

Abstract

The current crisis has pointed out weaknesses and raised issues concerning the religious situation in the newly formed circumstances - in conditions of pandemic, war, isolation. The Internet with its growing influence on social patterns, and the metaverse as a proposed unique virtual world which is assumed to be the future in development of the global network, represent a new space for these challenges. Given that there is still no ethical consensus on virtual world issues, this paper discusses the possible implications of interactions in the virtual reality of the metaverse. Based on the current factual situation and assumptions, an analysis of the dichotomous relationship between the actual religious rites practice in the physical world and the expected virtual religious practice in the metaverse, was performed. Theoretical bases have been laid for further considerations of the influence of the metaverse phenomenon on religious behavior/practice, and on individual and social life, as well as for considerations of the responses that religion should give to the topical, set challenges. It was concluded that under certain conditions the metaverse can be an opportunity to respond to some of the challenges that religious communities face.