Schaap, Julian. Aupers, Stef. Gods in World of Warcraft exist: Religious reflexivity and the quest for meaning in online computer games, New Media

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This article examines the use of religion within the game World of Warcraft. More specifically, how players reflect on the religious narratives within the game, and how that affects them personally. The article identifies three form of religious 'reflexivity'. The first being religious performance; an acting out of offline religious experiences through online roleplaying. The second, religious relativism; a shift from atheism to a tolerant attitude towards religion, and third, religious quests; an increased interest in religion and use online religion in games to create personal meaning online.

The article gets its data from detailed interviews with a handful of World of Warcraft players (N=22).


[edit] Religious Performance

Within the game, players choose a faction, race, and class to play as. This serves as their in-game identity. According to the article, based on interviews, religion is a significant factor In developing their in-game character's identity. Within the game there are pre-established religions, worshiped my NPC's, and even some player classes are pre-established within the game's religion (Paladin, Priest) which players may chose to embrace. The most personal form of religion as described by the article, is when players intentionally re-enact their on religious past within the game. For example, one participant talks about his three characters, each one representing a spiritual point in his life.


[edit] Religious Relativism

The article describes religious relativism within the game as the phenomenon when a player constantly interacts with a fictional world, with a variety of possible religions and spiritualities, it relativizes their ideas of religion in the offline world. The article reports that it found players were more open-minded towards real world religious diversity, and credited the game for expanding these ideas. The article recounts part of an interview with a player, in which reflects this definition of religious relativism. The player described himself as an atheist, originally strictly opposed to theist arguments. His character in World of Warcraft is a Paladin devoted to the Holy Light. The player explains how World of Warcraft, and his character inspired him to think more deeply about religion and spirituality.


[edit] Religious Quests

Some participants of the article's interview reported that playing the game motivated them personally on a quest for 'ultimate meaning'. In most cases, this combines different real world assumptions and traditions. For one player, he went through phases of Buddhism and Shamanism, which were drawn from the lore of World of Warcraft, which facilitated him to search for spiritual fulfilment within his own life.

(Thomas)

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