Tony Jones, the theologian-in-residence at Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis, Minnesota, created an app called Ordain Thyself that allows people to see what they would look like as a leader in 28 different religions. The app doesn’t actually get you ordained (though some faiths do let you get ordained easily over the Internet).
Photobooth style, Ordain Thyself superimposes some religious garb over a picture of yourself. The app also features brief summaries of each religion that are humorous and informative. Jones says he created the app to encourage religious leaders to be able to laugh about themselves and their faiths, as well as to teach a little something about world religions to the general public.
Ordain Theyself does have its critics, but the website simply tells them to "find an app that can deliver you a better sense of humor."
Religious Photobooth Apps
Ordain Thyself Lets You See Yourself as a Leader of Any Faith
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Identity Exploration - The use of apps that allow users to visualize themselves as leaders in different religions is a trend that enables virtual identity exploration.
2. Humorous Educational Apps - The rise of apps like Ordain Thyself that provide brief, humorous summaries of different religions is a trend that combines entertainment with education.
3. Promoting Interfaith Dialogue - The development of apps like Ordain Thyself that showcase multiple religions and encourage laughter and understanding between faiths is a trend that promotes interfaith dialogue.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile App Development - The mobile app development industry can seize the opportunity to create more apps that allow users to explore and experiment with their virtual identities.
2. Education and Learning - The education and learning industry can leverage the trend of humorous educational apps to create more engaging and entertaining learning experiences about different religions.
3. Interfaith Organizations - Interfaith organizations can harness the trend of apps promoting interfaith dialogue to facilitate conversations and interactions between people of different religious backgrounds.