Extended Reality and Public Theology
25 -28 April 2017
Churches have always emerged in public places. Now, the digital world extends and pervades our world: Pokemon Go game, augmented reality apps, 3D games and instant messaging. What are the possibilities for the church? How can we “extend” the world to bring our message to the people?
Christian voices have to make a contribution that is relevant and consistent with the Bible message in style and in content.
How does the lack of physical presence affect our empathy and our discourse…?
How could public theology and extended reality help us to give positive nudges to the more and more polarized world?
At the 22nd European Christian Internet Conference we will discuss these topics. It’s a wonderful place to share expierences, projects and ideas.
Conference venue will be in Falenty near Warsaw: www.falenty.com.pl
Keynotes:
Opening Keynote: Dr Jerzy Sojka, Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw
Abstract
Theological reflexion on the public space engagement is one of the most important areas of activity of today’s churches. Contemporary Christians wonder how they can engage in public discourse in accordance with their values, and at the same time effectively. In the year of the anniversary of 500 years of the Reformation we want to look closer at which theological impulses for the engagement of the Christians in public space come from one of the Reformation’s traditions – Lutheranism growing from the Wittenberg Reformation.
Keynote: Piotr Baczynski, co-founder and CEO at Immersion ( immersion.pl)
Keynote: “Christians in Virtual Reality” by Prof. Wojciech Cellary, Department of Information Technology Poznan University of Economics ( www.kti.ue.poznan.pl )
Abstract
In this talk, we first explain what Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are and we present some examples. We classify the VR/AR applications into: serious, for-fun and mixed, and we discuss their application areas. Then we ask a question how VR/AR will change a man in particular, a young man being native in VR/AR? We analyze sources of attractiveness of VR/AR, rules that are used in for-fun VR/AR applications, and the problem of evil in VR. Finally, we present some futuristic visions of VR (scaring) and conclusions.
Keynote: “Preach to all everywhere and by all means”, by Dr Anna Miotk, Communication director at PBI ( annamiotk.pl)
Abstract
Modern technologies are changing world, business and communication. Which tools and ideas can be used by religious organizations in spreading Good News? Where is the boundary between marketing of ideas and preaching Good News? Is it possible to proclaim the Gospel through technology, without personal contact with other people?
Panel discussion on Wednesday: “Past, present and future – the Polish churches and the internet”
Panelists: father Pawel Kowalski SJ (modlitwawdrodze.pl, deon.pl), Dariusz Bruncz (ekumenizm.pl), Aleksander Wasyluk (Infinity Group, OrthPhoto.net)
Moderator: rev. Ralf Peter Reimann (Web Pastor at Evangelical Church in Rhineland)
Details are subject to change.
| Tuesday, 25 April | |
| 15:00 | Registration, coffee and networking at the venue |
| 16:00 | Opening Prayer |
| 16:30 | Welcome and introductions |
| 17:30 | Opening Keynote: Dr Jerzy Sojka, Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw |
| Reflection | |
| 19:00 | Dinner |
| Wednesday, 26 April (open to local 1-day participants) | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 | Morning prayer (Chapel) |
| 9:30 | Keynote: Piotr Baczynski, co-founder and CEO at Immersion |
| 10:30 | coffee break |
| 11:00 | Panel discussion: “Past, present and future – the Polish churches and the internet” |
| 12:00 | Tell your story 1/2 |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Tell your story 3/4 |
| 14:30 | Tell your story 5/6 |
| 15:30 | Coffee break |
| 16:00 | Tell your story 7/8 |
| 16:30 | Tell your story 9/10 |
| 17:30 | reflection |
| 19:00 | Dinner |
| Friday, 28 April | |
| 8:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 | Morning prayer |
| 9:30 | Keynote: “Preach to all everywhere and by all means”, by Dr Anna Miotk |
| 11:00 | Feedback |
| 11:45 | Journey blessing |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
Tell-your-story sessions
These sessions comprise a series of presentations from ECIC members detailing innovations, developments and web strategies. This year there will be 30 minutes for each presentation including discussion.
Visit in Warsaw
On Thursday we leave falenty at 1.30 PM and travel on the bus to the centre of Warsaw. We visit Christian Academy of Theology in Warsaw (www.chat.edu.pl) and meet some students there. Together with them we can exercise our imagination in group workshop: “Use your imagination now” – Augmented Reality and the Churches.
After the meeting we split into two groups. First group visits the Old Town (45 minutes walk), second goes to the Masovian Voivodeship Miniature Park (http://miniaturymazowieckie.com/en/) to experience virtual reality scenes recreated of different views from around the Saski Palace in Warsaw (https://youtu.be/IhZH49avwtk). Two groups meet at the miniature park. First group continues there, second experiences Old Town.
After that part of the programme you can use your free time till 7.30 PM.
At 7:30 PM we meet at the Zapiecek Restaurant (www.zapiecek.eu) where we can try pierogies – Polish dumplings.
The bus back to Falenty is at 9:30 PM. If you stay in Warsaw you can come back with public transport or taxi. The last bus from P+R Aleja Krakowska is at 11.15 PM, the first in the morning at 4:15 AM.