Published: December 14, 2016
A San Francisco resident launches a controversial faith inspired by the Facebook founder’s worldview and digital influence
In San Francisco, a curious and controversial spiritual movement has appeared, placing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the role of a modern-day deity. The project invites interested followers to embrace the teachings, social philosophies, and behavioral insights associated with the tech entrepreneur’s digital empire.
Zuckerberg himself has publicly expressed interest in spirituality, though he once remarked that traditional religions can feel repetitive or uninspiring. Motivated by this perception, the founder of this new religion claims to be offering a belief system that is “new, different, and enjoyable to practice,” according to his public announcement.
The church’s concept imagines reality as a kind of video game, where humans represent player characters under a higher technological power. Within this framework, prominent figures in Zuckerberg’s orbit are given divine status. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, is associated with Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, art, and strategic warfare, highlighting her influence inside the platform.
The religion also designates Ashley Arenson, someone Zuckerberg reportedly admired in the past, as Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Through these symbolic assignments, its founder blends personal mythology with digital-era iconography to shape an unusual spiritual narrative.
While the movement remains fringe and largely experimental, it reflects the cultural fascination surrounding Silicon Valley icons. In an age of social media dominance, the idea raises deeper questions: how far does society allow technology to shape identity, community, and belief?
