Paper short abstract:

Cyberspace provides an 'imaginary environment' which some religious groups consider to be a valid sacramental space in which collective ritual can be performed. Is this qualitatively comparable to imaginary environments constructed in offline ritual?

Paper long abstract:

Rituals may take place in a defined physical space (a temple, a grove or shrine room) but they often involve willingly entering into a form of 'imaginary environment'. Examples include tantric sadhana practices and shamanic trance states (and to an extent even Masonic initiation rituals). These environments are described and learned during initiations and in many cases become liminal worlds to be revisited as demanded. Furthermore, physical and mental feats while in these liminal worlds are perceived as efficacious in bringing about an enduring change in the mundane world.

The internet offers the infrastructure for the 'imaginary environment' of cyberspace, and since its earliest days cyberspace's potential has been appropriated for religious use. This use varies from the prosaic dissemination of information (www.churchinwales.org.uk) to offering Vodou services (http://www.legba.biz/customwork.html) to groups which consider cyberspace as a valid sacramental space in which ritual can be meaningfully performed, for example neopagan groups which use virtual world of Second Life as a place to meet and perform collective rituals.

This paper intends to discuss the qualities of these offline and online virtual environments, with specific focus on religious groups which see similarities between their 'traditional' imaginary environments and those imaginary environments made possible through information and communication technology.