Robot takeover update (virtual pastor?)

Meet Milo, Microsoft's virtual four-year-old.



I have a bit of fun here from time to time about the "robot takeover," but this one's worth a more serious ponder. Here's a woman getting into a "virtual relationship" with a make-believe character. You think people won't get sucked into that? You think innocent little "Milo" won't be followed by not-so-innocent "Misty," or eventually "Megapastor"?

Just think: not only can Pastor _______ preach to church-congregations he never sets eyes on nor watches over in any meaningful way; all those disconnected individuals can talk with him in their living-rooms. They can even (delude themselves into believing that they) obey the "one-anothers" with Virtual Chuck Churchgoer and Virtual Sally Seeker.

It isn't alarmist to think that technology is taking us to another divide, and those portions of evangelicalism that have capitalized on personality via "virtual campuses" are already going the wrong way on the issue.