메타버스와 기독교교육적 활용 연구 : 메타버스 콘텐츠 중심으로

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore Christian educational tasks within the dimensions of education, technology, and ethics by identifying Millennial’s and Generation Z’s (“Generation MZ”) experience of using metaverse content for Christian education. Arising from the analysis of six Generation MZ learners in Korean churches (the “MZ learners”), who used metaverse content for Christian education, four themes or approaches of Christian education were found: transformation, faith community, spiritual development, and religious instruction. Consequentially, as a teaching medium for Generation MZ, the metaverse served as a converged world where different content was produced, consumed, and shared in the era of digital transformation - as well as providing a space for Christian education that encourages participation and interaction among Generation MZ. The COVID-19 pandemic and the era of digital transformation escalated the development of metaverse content. Consequently, Generation MZ is learning about Christianity and its teachings through metaverse content. Herein, the basic premise of this study is that Korean churches in the metaverse environment should reshape and strengthen Generation MZ’s faith through metaverse content as they are familiar with this platform. Therefore, this study first explores the main definitions, characteristics, types, platforms of metaverse content. Secondly, it reviews the experiences of the MZ learners, in respect of the educational features of Christianity, who studied the faith formation of the Korean church through metaverse content. Thirdly, based on the examples of metaverse content used by Generation MZ, it presents the educational, technological, and ethical challenges that the Korean church should address concerning Christian education’s use of the metaverse. Lastly, from an educational perspective, it proposes the direction of Korean church metaverse content in anticipation of the metaverse’s expanse. This study holds significant value in addressing core concepts of the metaverse and providing in-depth insights into the educational challenges experienced by Korean Christianity within the metaverse namely: education of metaverse literacy (educational), development of Christian content and convergent technologies (technological), and cultivation of metaverse citizenship (ethical).