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Our story concluded quickly and in an obvious way. At the same time that our building and inhabiting of houses had been ongoing, we had also been frequenting Christian sims, and fellowshipping (or trying to) with various Christians online. As you will read from the sad story starting here, it resulted in little but division, acrimony and frustration!
Then, like others who have given up on the idiocy, betrayal, deceit and hypocrisy, we wiped all Christian groups and friends from our profiles and went in search of a quiet life without the kind of argument and nasty nit-picking we encountered on Truth.
It is a sad fact that we found more friendliness, acceptance, kindness, generosity, truth and loyalty on non-christian sims than we did on christian ones. Apart from the blatantly immoral and evil people, there are fine people leading decent lives who wouldn't dream of behaving in the low underhanded spiteful way that so-called "christians" act on their church sims.
When these unbelievers heard how we had been treated, they were (rightly) outraged. On genuine non-christian sims, you can be banned, but not for disagreeing with the owner, or stating an honest opinion in an attempt to help others!!
Types of SL Christians
Hedonistic: Too many Christians today inhabit churches that give them the go-ahead to do anything they please, and their self-indulgence expands onto Second Life when they encounter few restraints to what they say or do, and anonymity that shields them from exposure to their family, friends and churches. They play at being churchgoers and are quick to condemn and judge others, but dress as furries, vampires, demons or whatever and indulge in role-playing, bdsm, heavy metal, and sex clubs and they have "wives" or "husbands" or other partners on SL regardless of their normal lives.
Immature: Many SL Christians are young in age and experience, and too immature to cope with what is thrown at them. They have perhaps been sheltered, so when antagonism comes along (often as a result of preaching the gospel) they are scared. They cannot cope with confrontation of any kind. They deal with it by trying to "love everyone" and "be nice" to defuse any arguments, and come over as so gentle, sweet and pliable that they lose all credibility. They have no real message, except that "God loves everyone". When that fails, they run away and hide.
Blinkered: Others inhabit a "christian ghetto" - a kind of fantasy life where they never have to encounter reality, and let themselves be fed by the "positive thinking" theology that will not allow them to see danger, evil or an impossible situation when it stares them in the face. They have been sucked into the "dominion mentality" where "everything is possible" and real problems are dismissed with glib statements like "just pray about it". They are hyped up on success and - like Carlton and his crew - barge onto Second Life all guns blazing, thinking they are going to "convert millions" and change the world just by being upbeat and positive.
Prejudiced: When they inevitably fail, it's always the fault of "those who pulled them down", never their own unrealistic goals. It's impossible to try to explain to them how SL really works. They have so many blinkers on that they are not seeing reality, just a vision of their own glory. Then when their little empire crumbles, they are quick to judge others (while claiming to "love" everyone).
Legalistic: Then on the other side are the Christians who have never cracked a smile in their lives, see evil in everything and everyone, and see themselves as God's appointed judge and jury sent to straighten us all out. They never give an inch. Nobody is ever as sound or holy as they are, so everyone must either be condemned or brought under the bondage of rules and regulations, as they are.
Right is Banned, Wrong is Welcomed
No matter what type of Christian you encounter, it is a fact of "Truth" that the heretics, troublemakers, abusive, shallow and ridiculous are not banned, but anyone who dares to speak up for scriptural truth and who is learned and intelligent enough to challenge the impoverished little message that "Truth" stands for, will be banned almost without question.
California Condor of Truth Island is scared of anybody who can expose his lack of wisdom and his inability to reason from the scriptures. He is childishly immature, and afraid of those who know more than he does and who can therefore point out his absurdity. He deals with such a threat by banning it, so that both he and his vapid followers can applaud themselves, safe in the knowledge that they will never be contradicted. (This they call "unity" and "peace" - the safety of never allowing yourself to be challenged and to grow.)
Returning to Truth (not)
Several times, friends who were still part of the Truth sim either asked to have us unbanned, or (if they were staff members) unbanned us themselves. They knew the accusations against us were ridiculous, and saw no reason for a permanent ban. While appreciating these friends, I KNEW what would happen.
Once, while sitting comfortably in the cafe, talking in a very amiable way to a new couple that I happened to meet there, I was ejected (mid-sentence) thousands of feet into the sky by California Condor (who wasn't even there at the time). Naturally the couple I'd been chatting to were alarmed and wondered what on earth had happened, and were incredulous when I told them.
But the permanent ban was applied no matter what I said or did. He hated me that much.
Another time, when a friend un-banned me and my husband, we both went and sat in the pew during a church "service" to show our humility and acceptance, but within about five minutes we were both ejected and tossed off the entire sim, without one word being spoken. This isn't a matter of what we say any more, or what we do, it's a matter of California bearing a grudge because he cannot cope with criticism.
Above all, we entered Second Life as OURSELVES, and are not prepared to play a Christian game to please others.
LAGUNA BEACH - Our New Hideout
Without really thinking about it, the place where we ended up hanging out was "Laguna".
That was because we visited a few times and found a core of friendly people, who could joke, have fun, be serious and just be friendly without any pressure or expectation or blame.In order to "rezz" objects, run scripts and receive group notices we were added to the group, which has the tag "Laguna Nude Beach" although in fact, nudity is entirely voluntary, and few choose to take their clothes off.
However, here was another instance of judging without knowing.
If we inadvertently went to a church sim with our beach tags on, we were instantly under judgement for it - no matter that WE do not parade around in the nude, and our beach friendships were for nothing more saucy than a bit of dancing and chatting.
As a Christian I don't find Laguna Beach very satisfying and it's often banal (or offensive, depending who is on the beach) but it's better than the bear pit of "Truth" any day, and the emotions are at least honest, and our acceptance there is genuine. We didn't feel we had to prove ourselves or be anything other than what we are.
We were told that we were the nicest people on the beach and that they enjoyed our company. We did not go there looking for praise, but I feel it is a reflection of our desire to be genuine.
A Reformation on SL?
Almost by chance I discovered a beautiful sim called "Reformation" where a few Calvinists gathered. I warily talked with them and thought it a peaceful place. Although I'm not Calvinist, I didn't go there to argue or make points, just to be in the company of Christians.
I was beginning to be welcomed and accepted, when all of a sudden the sim disappeared. I found out it had been sold and the owners had become so disillusioned, so attacked, so fed up with the evil gossip, so maligned and misunderstood that they sold up and cut themselves off from all Christians. I know how they felt.
Of course, all of these Reformation christians, like us, had previously been banned from "Truth" !! Nothing changes there.
So the few visits now made to Second Life were just to fly around looking for clothes, or sitting for half an hour on a beach. That seems to be the limit of involvement that any sane person should have on Second Life.
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