The Soul Of Second Life: In SL Spirituality Survey, 48% Open To Mind Upload, 62% To New SL-Based Religions

Mr. Ferlinghetti at Koinonia, a Church of Christ establishment

There are churches, synagogues, and mosques in Second Life, but has the world itself shaped the community's beliefs on religion?  According to a new preliminary study by a New York academic known in-world as Soren Ferlinghetti  (university site here), very much so.  Soren began compiling poll data last year, and just sent me the early results, and they're striking.  He believes a larger sample will be needed, but "some interesting results, though, include the fact that nearly 50% of survey takers would consider uploading their minds into SL if it were technologically feasible," he tells me, "and the majority consider earthly religions relevant to SL."  Just as fascinating to me, 62% are open to the possibility that new religions will arise from Second Life itself (38% of those answer "Definite/Probably Yes"), and even more extraordinary, 68% would consider those new creeds as valid as established material religions. 

Overall, the survey suggests a profound and pervasive sense of Second Life as a platform for transcendence.  In that regard, it's amazing that 17% report attending an SL-based religious service once a month or more.  In an unrelated academic survey, only 13.6% reported they regularly had sex in Second Life.  Broadly applied, in other words, on average a Second Life Resident is more likely to be praying, than copulating.

Of course, the chief caveat is that this is a small sample, and likely a somewhat self-selected one. Fortunately, Soren says he'll soon compile a larger survey base, and I'll link to that when it's available.  In the meantime, you can e-mail him about his research at this address.  For now, I've published his current results in full after the break; it's a broad-ranging survey, covering usage hours, religious affiliation, even dreaming about SL.  Read on, and offer your insights in Comments.

Survey Statistics   Viewed 410 Started 158 Completed 134 Completion Rate 84.81% Drop Outs (After Starting) 24 Average time taken to complete survey : 5 minute(s)

Do you think that new religions could arise in Second Life (SL) and possess as much legitimacy as real life (RL) religions (assume, for the sake of argument, that at least one RL religion is legitimate)?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Definitely yes 30 20.98% 2. Probably yes 23 16.08% 3. Maybe 36 25.17% 4. Probably no 39 27.27% 5. Definitely no 15 10.49% Total 143 100% Key Analytics Mean 2.902 Key Facts 52.45% chose the following options : Probably no Maybe Least chosen option 10.49% : Definitely no Confidence Interval @ 95% [2.689 - 3.115] n = 143 Standard Deviation 1.302 Standard Error 0.109

Would such religions be valid in RL as well?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Definitely yes 23 17.42% 2. Probably yes 31 23.48% 3. Maybe 37 28.03% 4. Probably no 24 18.18% 5. Definitely no 17 12.88% Total 132 100% Key Analytics Mean 2.856 Key Facts 51.52% chose the following options : Maybe Probably yes Least chosen option 12.88% : Definitely no Confidence Interval @ 95% [2.639 - 3.073] n = 132 Standard Deviation 1.273 Standard Error 0.111

Do you think that human minds could be completely understood by a brain scan and ?downloaded? into SL if technology advances enough?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Definitely yes 19 14.29% 2. Probably yes 22 16.54% 3. Maybe 23 17.29% 4. Probably no 38 28.57% 5. Definitely no 31 23.31% Total 133 100% Key Analytics Mean 3.301 Key Facts 51.88% chose the following options : Probably no Definitely no Least chosen option 14.29% : Definitely yes Confidence Interval @ 95% [3.068 - 3.534] n = 133 Standard Deviation 1.371 Standard Error 0.119

If this were possible (whether or not you think it is), would you find it an attractive alternative to real life?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Definitely yes 27 20.30% 2. Probably yes 9 6.77% 3. Maybe 32 24.06% 4. Probably no 32 24.06% 5. Definitely no 33 24.81% Total 133 100% Key Analytics Mean 3.263 Key Facts 48.87% chose the following options : Definitely no Maybe Least chosen option 6.77% : Probably yes Confidence Interval @ 95% [3.019 - 3.507] n = 133 Standard Deviation 1.435 Standard Error 0.124

How much time do you spend in Second Life (SL)?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. 0-2 hours per week 14 10.53% 2. 3-6 hours per week 32 24.06% 3. 7-14 hours per week 39 29.32% 4. 14+ hours per week 48 36.09% Total 133 100% Key Analytics Mean 2.910 Key Facts 65.41% chose the following options : 14+ hours per week 7-14 hours per week Least chosen option 10.53% : 0-2 hours per week Confidence Interval @ 95% [2.738 - 3.082] n = 133 Standard Deviation 1.011 Standard Error 0.088

Are your relationships in SL as important to you as your relationships in real life?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Definitely yes 34 25.76% 2. Probably yes 29 21.97% 3. Maybe 24 18.18% 4. Probably no 26 19.70% 5. Definitely no 19 14.39% Total 132 100% Key Analytics Mean 2.750 Key Facts 47.73% chose the following options : Definitely yes Probably yes Least chosen option 14.39% : Definitely no Confidence Interval @ 95% [2.510 - 2.990] n = 132 Standard Deviation 1.405 Standard Error 0.122

Do you visit religious places (temples, meditation gardens, etc.) in SL?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Never 14 10.53% 2. I have once or twice 59 44.36% 3. Once or twice per month 29 21.80% 4. Once or twice per week 24 18.05% 5. Daily 7 5.26% Total 133 100% Key Analytics Mean 2.632 Key Facts 66.17% chose the following options : I have once or twice Once or twice per month Least chosen option 5.26% : Daily Confidence Interval @ 95% [2.451 - 2.812] n = 133 Standard Deviation 1.062 Standard Error 0.092

Do you participate in SL religious rituals?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Never 84 63.16% 2. I have once or twice 26 19.55% 3. Once or twice per month 10 7.52% 4. Once or twice per week 13 9.77% 5. Daily 0 0.00% Total 133 100% Key Analytics Mean 1.639 Key Facts 82.71% chose the following options : Never I have once or twice Confidence Interval @ 95% [1.471 - 1.807] n = 133 Standard Deviation 0.987 Standard Error 0.086

Do you think that real life religions have a place in SL?

Frequency Analysis Answer Count Percent 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1. Definitely yes 70 53.03% 2. Probably yes 29 21.97% 3. Maybe 21 15.91% 4. Probably no 7 5.30% 5. Definitely no 5 3.79% Total 132 100% Key Analytics Mean 1.848