The previous unpublished article was also supposed to be accompanied by the following interview. Please note that, since this was written, the NationStates Core of Catholics has ceased to exist as an NS-related entity, although it continues on as a place of discussion and Bible study for Catholics on and off NS.

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Having spent some time in the server of the NationStates (NS) Core of Catholics, I recently spent some time getting to know Wonderess, the Founder of the Core, and explored with them their reasons for creating such a distinct organisation.

Seraph: You're pretty well-known in certain parts of NS, but I don't believe that the South Pacific is one of them, so, for the benefit of our readers, could you please first tell us a little about yourself and your NS career?

Wonderess: I am Wonderess, known by my main nation Castle Federation. I originated from the Coalition of Catholic States in 2011 when it was quite active. I departed NS for a few years and returned in The North Pacific in 2018. I was Speaker of the Regional Assembly there for one term. I am the Servant Wonderess and founder of the NationStates Core of Catholics, which is an interregional organization of Catholics who wish to further the mission of the Church in-game. It is also an organization open to the company of non-Catholics who can deliberate and engage in dialogue with us.

Seraph: You've clearly had an interesting a varied career and seen a fair bit of the breadth of the NationStates community. What, in particular, made you decide to found the Core? Could you tell us a little about the journey to that point?

Wonderess: The Catholic faith is truly a universal one as the term "catholic" expresses. There is an understanding that faith is to be lived out unabashedly and so there was a need for a place where the Catholics of NS could come and discuss that. The Core became a place where collaboration and organization was possible. I wanted a non-region so that people could still be a part of their regional communities while still taking part in the Core. We all come from different regions, but we are able to come together to talk about the more innate things of our humanity and faith. One day I just decided to dedicate myself to this project, and I am so thankful to everyone who has made the Core possible Catholic and not alike.

Seraph: It's very obviously a work of passion for you and, speaking from my own experience there, it shows in how you interact with everyone. Have you found it a rewarding thing to be part of? What are the standout moments for you?

Wonderess: You would be surprised how hard it can be to find a place in NationStates where respectful discourse can take place without misgiving. I try to make sure within my power that the Core is always able to be that first and foremost. Every conversation is an opportunity to change someone's life including my own. I remember I was in a voice chat with [a fellow-Catholic and] a practising Jew, and for us to be able to sit down and just talk about differences and theological subjects without that anger or awkwardness you can find in culture today is very refreshing and truly a gift.

Seraph: I've certainly been impressed by the robust nature of the discussions there and how no topic is off-limits, although I've occasionally found it a little intimidating coming in as a non-Catholic. Nevertheless, the sense of an open forum is strong, as is a certain ecumenical recognition of varied beliefs, which is refreshing. How do you see the Core growing and achieving its goals? Do you feel that God has more in store for this venture in the future?

Wonderess: I think the Core will remain a conduit by which we all grow as people. I hope we can get more people in, both Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Anyone is welcome to invite their friends or interested parties who would be able to respect the spirit and atmosphere the Core currently has. I am not one for advertising or shameless recruiting, but I usually just bring it up if the situation seems right to do so. We as a Core wish to serve God first and foremost, and you can rest assured that we constantly seek to discern how that is to be done more perfectly.

Seraph: NationStates is a very broad game - indeed, much more a conglomeration of communities than it is a game. Given the many and varied ways that people "play" NS, what would you say is the role of the Christian and the Christian life and witness in NationStates?

Wonderess: So this is very much a social game played by real people interacting in a shared space, whether that be Discord or a forum. This in itself provides the opportunity to reach for those inherent aspects of the human experience which we would attribute to philosophy and, yes, theology. I see it as my job to educate people about the faith I belong to while also listening to the ideas of others’ traditions.

Religion most definitely should be discussed without fear or disdain in the public sphere because that is how understanding comes about. The idea of keeping it private or to the self leads to stagnation and leaves a significant aspect of human understanding and experience off the table. I see religious topics to be just as important as scientific ones. I wish the dichotomy of the mythos and logos to be preserved and even reestablished in our culture as it was in the Ancient Greek world because understanding under both forms is essential. I do the best I can to be a part of that push for reestablishment.

Seraph: That's encouraging to hear. One of the reasons I started getting involved in NationStates, beyond just answering issues, was to be part of an online community within which I could be a witness to Christ and the gospel. I firmly believe that online communities are increasingly the most unreached people-groups out there and that there is a severe lack of understanding of what ordinary Christians are like and what they believe. I felt a calling to be part of that, though it took me a long time before I expressed it very much in public, so, though I may not be Catholic, it warmed my heart to see the existence and mission of the Core so mirror my own, albeit in a considerably more organised and forthright way. There would be those, however, who might find the existence of such an organisation to be in some way sinister. Would you have anything to say to such people?

Wonderess: Often times we fear what we do not understand. I would say that such people would have to examine truthfully what the Church and what we as an organisation stand for to really be able to make a judgement. I would hope that hearsay and pop-cultural so-called knowledge would not be enough to convince people that we are working towards ill will. I consider the Core to be a safe haven from all that. If you don't want to be bullied or feel like an outcast then I invite you to join us. We can talk about many things, but we also want to be compassionate towards those who just want to be treated kindly. Anyone who would like to see what the Core is for themselves is more than welcome to join us.

Seraph: Thank you for your time, Wonderess, and may God bless you as you continue to serve Him.

Wonderess: Thank you, Seraph. May God be with you as well.

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