Shane Liesegang, a former video game designer, finds his calling in the Jesuit order while merging his love for storytelling and religion.
In the early 2000s, Shane Liesegang’s life seemed perfect. Living in sunny Los Angeles, he had a good job, plenty of friends, and success as a designer for popular video games like Fallout and Skyrim. However, beneath the surface, Liesegang was plagued by anger and a lack of spiritual fulfillment. A transformative moment on the infamous 405 highway led him to reevaluate his life and embark on a spiritual quest that eventually led him to join the Jesuits, the same religious order as Pope Francis. Now, Liesegang finds himself at the intersection of video games and religion, writing core texts for a space religion in the blockbuster video game Starfield.
The Journey to Spirituality
Raised Catholic in Jacksonville, Florida, Liesegang had drifted away from religion until his encounter with anger on the 405 highway. Seeking a sense of purpose and meaning, he found solace in St. Monica, a Catholic parish in Los Angeles filled with young adults seeking spiritual connection. This experience sparked a yearning to merge his passion for storytelling through video games with his newfound interest in religion.
Merging Video Games and Religion
While working at Bethesda, the maker of popular video games like Fallout and Skyrim, Liesegang began to explore the intersection of religion and video games. He found himself working on liturgical texts and rituals for the fictional religions featured in the studio’s games. His experience attending church gave him a unique understanding of the language and cadence required for religious texts and rituals.
Joining the Jesuits
Inspired by Pope Francis and his curiosity about the Jesuit order, Liesegang made the decision to join the Jesuits in 2015. This led him back to graduate school to study philosophy at Fordham University and later to Boston College, where he is currently studying theology and working with students. Liesegang’s past experience in video games has proven valuable in connecting with college students who are often surprised to learn about his involvement in popular games like Skyrim.
Writing for Starfield
Liesegang’s expertise in storytelling and religion led to an unexpected opportunity. He was asked to write the core texts for a space religion called the Sanctum Universum in the video game Starfield. The game allows players to explore a futuristic universe, battle space pirates, and engage with various religions, including the Sanctum Universum. Liesegang’s theology for the religion focuses on the idea that God can be experienced among the stars, offering players a philosophical and transcendent experience.
The Future of Ministry
Liesegang’s work on Starfield has sparked discussions about the role of video games in his future ministry. While he doesn’t envision creating Christian video games or faith-based entertainment, he remains open to working on projects that align with his calling. As a designer, he sees fictional worlds as systems designed by people, just like the real world. Liesegang believes that if people created the world’s problems, they also have the power to change them.
Conclusion:
Shane Liesegang’s journey from video game designer to Jesuit showcases the power of personal transformation and the merging of passions. Through his work in the video game industry and his studies as a Jesuit, Liesegang has found a unique way to bridge the gap between storytelling, spirituality, and technology. As he continues to explore the intersection of video games and religion, Liesegang’s story serves as a reminder that humans are spiritual creatures, even in the ever-evolving world of technology.
Leave a Reply