Cyberspace and Religion: The Question of Their Relationship and the Challenges of Religious Practice
2024-12-16 09:53Ruhollah Al-Musawi
Summary
The study of the relationship between religion and the phenomenon of virtual space has become one of the most critical contemporary research areas in religious studies and modern theology, often referred to as the theology of phenomena. This article, employing an analytical and rational approach, aims to explore the relationship between religion and the current virtual space, on the one hand, and religion’s connection to social networks and the broader digital human phenomenon, on the other. We present and critically assess several theories proposed in this field, offering detailed critiques, and conclude that social networks, in their current form, structure, and operational dynamics, exhibit inherent biases that contribute to the destabilization of religiosity. However, irrespective of the nature of current communication mediums, it is the societal context—the collective human experience—that ultimately shapes how networked communication influences religious practice.
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
