Research Essay Introduction

When one thinks of marriage, funerals, and other spiritual rituals, they would typically think of history and tradition; not technology and virtual worlds. But there is an ever growing population of people who perform these rituals online. Let's explore why people chose to do such rituals in a virtual environment, if it's legal and how someone would go about doing a ritual in this nature.

Outline

"Title"?
I) Introduction
1) Growing population of rituals/ceremonies online
A)Research question
1) Let's explore why people chose to do such rituals in a virtual environment, if they're legal, and how someone would go about doing such a ritual in this nature.

II) Body
A) Marriage
1) Not legal- like a "test drive"
2) Advantages
a) no STD's
b) no aging
c) babies
- no unexpected pregnancies
3) How to get married
a) designate partner in world on profile
b) send proposal using a form or in person
c) cost L$10 to get married and L$25 to get divorced
d) ceremonies
B) Funerals
1) Real life people or avatars
2) advantages
a) don't have to go out in public when feeling down
b) people from all over the world can come at no cost
- some peoples closest friends are in Second Life
3) Funeral Ceremonies
a) Uitvaart.com- funeral company
- located in the Gardens of Memories in the Tatlina region
- casket burial
- cremation
b) costs
C) Wiccian/ spiritual funerals?

III) Conclusion
A) summary of points
B) restatement of question

*still not final on this outline

Topic and Research Question

I chose the spirituality and rituals topic.

When one thinks of marriage, funerals, and other spiritual rituals, they would typically think of history and traditon; not technology and virtual worlds. But there is a ever growing population of people who perform these rituals online. Let's explore why people chose to do such rituals in a virtual enviornment, if they are legal and how someone would go about doing a ritual in this nature.

Entertainment is one of the most important parts of our lives. It is typically what we spend most of our money on, and what we would like to spend most of our time doing. So it's only natural that Second Life is filled with entertainment. And as in real life, there are many different kinds of people who like to do many different kinds of things. This is also reflected in Second Life. There are many different types of entertainment in Second Life. The ones that I enjoyed the most are sporting events, clubs and theatre shows. Each of these have their own unique set of rules like in Artstonia Village it is required to dress in medieval clothes and participate in role play, fans such as sporting team fans and enjoyment.

There are many types of entertainment in Second Life. The ones that I enjoyed he most are sporting events, clubs and theatre shows. Each of these have their own unique set of rules of participation, fans and enjoyment.

Paper Essay 1 Introduction

One of the biggest aspects of my life is religion and spirituality. So when I chose Religion and Spirituality as my paper topic, I was excited to see how well Second Life would incorporate it in world since after all, Second Life is meant to imitate real life. And I wasn't disapointed; Second Life has many, many religous groups from taditional Christian donaminations to Wiccan groups and everything in between. They all have functional services and they each have their own way of spiritual healing and comfort. The different religions in Second Life offer just as many services as in the real world like Bible studies and weekley services; they offer more spiritual freedom than the real world because there is less judgement, and each has it's on unique way of speaking to people and apiritualy healing it's followers.

Tena Trolinger

Topic and Thesis Statement

The topic that I chose for my first short paper was the Reiligon and Spirituality. Here is a rough draft of my thesis statement:

Exploring religion and spirituality in Secdond life will lead to the discovorance of the importance of such things even in a virtual enviornment, things that the virtual envoirnment offers people of religion and spirituality that the real world does not, all of the different types of religions among Second Life and how they can personaly effect people.