<論考>イスラームが新たなメディアと出合うとき --メタバースという経験--

Abstract

This paper aims to reveal how Muslims in the Middle East and other Muslim societies have reacted to new media, with a special emphasis on the Metaverse, an obscure term generally understood to refer to an online virtual 3D space that is expected to allow more natural communication than previous tools such as email and social networking sites and to engage users in activities in the virtual space similar to those in the real world. The term “Metaverse, ” which was originally used in science fiction, became extremely popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly after Facebook changed the name of its business to Meta Platforms at the end of 2021. Since then, numerous Muslim countries, led by some oil-rich Gulf countries, have demonstrated their interest in investing in the field, much like other countries. This study examines social and religious reactions to the acceptance of the Metaverse and explores a few religious practices such as the virtual Hajj (the virtual pilgrimage to the Kaaba constructed on virtual 3D space) and praying in the Metaverse (or in a similar virtual 3D space) to demonstrate how Muslims in the Middle East and other parts of Muslim societies have reacted to this “new medium.” Through its investigation, this study demonstrates that Muslims' interpretation and understanding of the Metaverse are justified by their previous experience of media usage (particularly television and the internet), which appears to facilitate their acceptance of a new medium like the Metaverse.