Virtual Reality Brings the Bible to Life at Exhibit Booth

Boris Charaia, a delegate from the country of Georgia—located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia—was among the many international visitors who stopped by the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary’s (IATS) exhibit booth during the sixty-second General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

Charaia was intrigued by a child using virtual reality goggles at the booth and asked if the activity was only for children. After learning it was designed for all age groups, he patiently joined the line to experience the immersive presentation for himself.

He was one of dozens from around the world who explored Theo-Verse Legacy, an innovative initiative by IATS that invites users into a multisensory retelling of the biblical creation story. The experience reflects the Inter-American Division’s (IAD) broader efforts to use emerging technologies to advance theological education.

“As part of our strategic plan, we’ve introduced virtual reality to help students and professors engage with theological topics in a dynamic, immersive environment,” said Carlos Robles, vice president for strategic planning and assessment at IATS.

“We developed Theo-Verse Legacy as a virtual library that allows users to interact with biblical history,” Robles explained. “The first module focuses on creation—not just to be read or watched, but explored.”

Accessible through the seminary’s website, setai.edu, the project was made freely available at the request of the IAD’s Education Department. “Anyone can now experience it online,” Robles said.

The program also includes artificial intelligence features, allowing users to ask questions to such characters as Adam and Eve. “They respond based on biblical and theological context,” Robles said. “It brings a level of engagement and personalization that’s new to theological education.”

From children and adults to pastors and administrators, many booth visitors expressed amazement as they stepped into the virtual environment. “Some told us it was the first time they visualized creation in such a vivid and spiritual way,” Robles said. “We heard shouts of excitement, smiles of amazement, and, above all, expressions of gratitude for a tool that connects technology with faith.”

The 10-day exhibit offered a unique opportunity to demonstrate how innovation can enhance spiritual understanding. Robles shared that representatives from several world divisions expressed interest in expanding the experience to other languages. The project is currently available in English, Spanish, and French.

Looking ahead, IATS is already developing the next virtual reality module, which will focus on catastrophism—particularly the Flood story.

“It will explore questions about Earth’s formation, geological layers, and fossil records from a biblical perspective,” Robles said.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.