Is your soul wired?

 

First those wacky Californians created drive-in churches patterned on drive-in movie theaters. Next thing you know, they're building drive-THROUGH churches where you could receive the Host as easily as grabbing a Happy Meal.

Now, thanks to Wired Souls (www.wiredsouls.org) you don't even have to take off your jammies. As the founder of Wired Souls says on the site, you can now get religion "from the comfort of your recliner, your office, or even while flying to Cannes.  "The founder of Wired Souls is Reverend Dan Lee, a thirty-something holy man who resides near Denver, Colorado. We caught up with him for a lunch chat in his home recently, and here's what he had to say:

grrl-e-grrl (g-e-g): You have a fun site. Talk a little about it.

Dan Lee (DL): Not fun, dear, flawless. It's simple, it's elegant, and it's easy for my volunteer webmaster to maintain. It's a non-threatening place to go to discuss faith, life, whatever is on your mind. We've had some difficulties lately with one of our vendors, but I'm sure that issue will work itself out soon enough.

g-e-g: How many members do you have?

DL: I don't honestly keep track. Back in the first quarter of 2002 we hit our thousandth Wired Souls Club member (editor's note: The Wired Souls Club is open to members who donate $1000 or more.) so I'd have to assume we have many, many times that number of readers. You know, that's how it is with this web thing--most people get for free what a few fabulous people are willing to pay for.

g-e-g: Your home is beautiful. You must earn quite a living outside the web site.

DL: Thank you. I pride myself on my exquisite taste. I don't like to talk about money, my dear, but let's just say I feel no pain. Wired Souls is my only job.

g-e-g: I see you offer an electronic confession service to Club members. Did you know the Catholic church has specifically forbidden electronic confession?

DL: I suppose I'm glad I'm not a priest, then. Wouldn't want to break the rules.

g-e-g: What denomination are you ordained into?

DL: That is something I don't discuss in public. I feel that by using a generic "reverend" honorific I don't frighten off people whose faith may differ from mine--or yours. We are all-welcoming, and all-inclusive. Just as is the Supreme Being.

g-e-g: You always use "supreme being." Why?

DL: The G word is offensive to some religions. How would you feel as a Buddhist if you came to my site and I only referred to God? Or if you were Hindu and called the Supreme Being Buddha? "Supreme Being" is a nice, broad umbrella term most people don't seem to mind. It's kind of an "insert-your-deity-here" catch-all.

g-e-g: I see. What's next for Wired Souls?

DL: Well, I have this new feature I'm testing out that will allow members to chat with each other and bask in the radiance that is me, as well. It's my first foray into having a message board associated with the site. It came about as a direct result of that vendor difficulty I mentioned. I hope to continue to grow and expand the site as we reach more and more of those starving for spiritual sustenance in a non-judgmental atmosphere. You know, it's like they say--some people look for the Supreme Being and find religion instead. We hope you'll come looking for religion and find the Supreme Being. 

 

Peyton Adair grrl-e-grrl.com contributor