Regarding the third place mentioned in this post: a piece with a similar concept came across my reader the other day.
It was based on a critique of modern American religion (albeit from a religious perspective) and talked about the need for what the author calls "triangulation" in social settings.
Regardless of the religious content in the article, I thought it interesting to note the similarity of concepts from an anthropological perspective.
One could speculate that the virtualization of many of our relationships has the potential to fill similar needs that the religious seek to fill in worship.
It was based on a critique of modern American religion (albeit from a religious perspective) and talked about the need for what the author calls "triangulation" in social settings.
http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/03/02/the-ironic-gesture-of...
Regardless of the religious content in the article, I thought it interesting to note the similarity of concepts from an anthropological perspective.
One could speculate that the virtualization of many of our relationships has the potential to fill similar needs that the religious seek to fill in worship.