Living in a Virtual Reality

In 2007 seven individuals bought an island and embarked on a mission to create a place in which individuals could overcome religious differences and learn to live together—all in a virtual world.

The community, which is called, Al-Andalus was created using the online, 3D digital platform called Second Life.  Second Life was founded and is now run by Linden Lab which is located in San Francisco, Calif.  It is similar to other computer games, like the Sims, except for one large difference. In Second Life, every tree, every house, every shop, and every subway line is created by the people, or Avatars, playing the game--it is a virtual world created solely by the user. 

One of the founders of A1-Andalus, just one of the dozens of communities that exist in Second Life, "Rose Springvale," is a mother of two, an attorney and a wife to a CEO husband in the real world. 

With the hope of promoting greater religious tolerance across the globe a group called the "Confederation of Democratic Sims," to which Springvale is a member, constructed a likeness to two great monuments to medieval Islamic architecture-the Alhambra located in Granada, Spain and The Great Mosque in Cordoba, Spain.  The seven creators also built a bazaar in which Second Life users can buy and sell virtual goods such as food and clothing.  A set of apartment complexes which the Avatars can rent was also constructed.  Avatars pay rent using the Linden dollar, the virtual currency of Second Life.

Springvale and her fellow founders wanted to create a sense of "convivencia", the Spanish term for "living together" in Al-Andalus.  They wanted to create a place in which Muslims, Christians, Jews--people of every religion--could live harmoniously with one another.

"[Second Life] looks at the cultural aspect of the world; we are all part of the human family," said professor of English and QU 301 The Middle East Perspective, Janet Bahgat said.  "The more understanding we have of other cultures the more prejudices and stereotypes are broken down."

Several hundred Avatars from Singapore to Houston have explored Al-Andalus.  The creators of this community have made it open to everybody who has an entity on Second Life. 

Under the direction of Avatar "Micael Khandr" also known as Michael Carey, professor of organizational management at University of Spokane, Washington the members living in Al-Andalus agreed to have a representative government without taking any regard to different religions.  The government runs the area using the basic Islamic principles of political participation, separation of powers and the justice and the rule for all.

Carey also founded the "Convivencia Institute" to promote understanding among the different religious groups living in Al-Andalus.

Any resident of this area and any member of Second Life can visit the mosque or the Alhambra.  Staying true to Islamic custom and tradition, upon entering The Great Mosque Avatars are asked to remove their shoes and women are given veils to cover their hair.  Removing ones shoes or putting on the veil is completely a personal decision, however; no Avatar is required to do so to enter the mosque.

Second Life is the largest of all the online, virtual worlds with 17 million members. A basic membership to Second Life is free to anyone who has an internet connection and downloads the software.  Residents throughout Second Life communicate in multiple languages using text or voice chat; instant translations are even offered from language to language.  A premium membership to Second Life, which allows a person to access every area of the game, must be purchased using a real credit card, not Linden dollars.

"Anything that has the potential to break down barriers; anything that helps us step outside ourselves and realize that there is more out there is a positive thing," Bahgat said.