Digital religion studies. Exploring religious practices with emerging digital technologies

Table of content

Abstract

Introduction

The concept of Digital Religion

Methodology

Profiles of digital religious teachers and candidates

Analysis of results

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Abstract

A study has been conducted to collect the opinion of digital religious teachers and students to find out the outreach of digital technologies for various temple services, rituals and extension services. Data has been analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The results showed the interest, acceptance and amalgamation of digital technology into religion of candidates and teachers and the concerned literature confirmed the same. The participants in this study belong to different religions of the World. Digital religion is religion on digital media and also an amalgamation of all of the societal and cultural aspects of religion with all segments of the digital society. Digital religion studies analyses and discusses how different religious practices incorporated, absorbed and acknowledged digital technology into their religious lives. The main attention of the present article is, to explore religious practices with emerging digital technologies in contemporary culture. The present article provides an outline of the development of digital religion studies and some of the practical approaches usually applied in this area. Societal and cultural influence on digital technology and vice versa has been looked within the arena of digital and religious studies. Though digital religion study is an upcoming area, it is a unique research area with unfolding of extraordinary results. The digital religion studies research in the present scenario has gained momentum because of accepting the internet in day-to-day lives. Considering various enacted ritualistic modes of worship, which are portrayed through media, some of the common forms of the religious practices are highlighted. On the whole, this article provides some insights into contemporary research and its application of digital religion studies.

Key words: Digital religion, religious practices, online rituals, application of digital technology

Introduction

Internet technology presents an innovative reality, which is conceptual, and could challenge religion in subtle and distinct ways (Paul, 2017). Now-a-days, most religious practices are digitalised. The religious programmes are available in media (Fig.1): television, radio, websites, blogs, social media, web TV, mobile Apps, etc (Nanda & Cruz, 2014). Internet as an innovative technology could certainly challenge the existing religious practices. It facilitates people while using the traditional ritualistic practices. Some TV channels are broadcasting the religious events, while some other channels are exclusively operating for the sake of religious events. Many people are able to follow the instructions easily.

Television radio websites blogs

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Fig.1: The religious programmes are available in media

Although it appears controversial, religion in all its forms and functions is transferring and mixing with the digital technology (Helland, 2016). Religious rituals at various stages or steps are allowing technology intrusion to enable smooth implementation of religious activities.

Digital religion is a blending of modern society with contemporary religious beliefs and practices. Digital religion is, “religion” on digital media as well as a mixing of all of the societal and cultural components of religion with all of the elements of a digital society (Helland, 2016).

It was found that some leaders often use their social media platforms as a natural extension of their current modes of communication. More specifically, evangelical leaders use their account to encourage and inspire their followers, while also conveying information about upcoming personal projects such as tours and book releases (Burge and Williams, 2019). Some religious leaders to extend and continue their communication through face book, twitter, whatsapp, etc. These leaders communicate digitally for providing information regarding their future events to enable their followers to plan for and follow easily.

In Rosowsky’s (2019) study focusing on the online ritual of bay’ah, or allegiance pledging, in Sufism; when ritual moves online, language form and practice being modified and transformed. Thus, it is possible that different forms of rituals may modify for various religious practices.

Internet technologies may relate better to Buddhist ideas like interdependent origination rather than to ideas in other spiritual or religious traditions. In the last decade, American Buddhists have grown. Their growth is much faster than any other religious traditions due to the growth of the internet. The source of this data is Pew and Veidlinger’s research on online communities like Second Life. Buddhist philosophy represents the philosophy of the internet (Marshall, 2020). Internet has a unique place in all most all religions, particularly, during the crisis periods like Covid-19, pandemic. Internet has entered into different religions for various religious activities. Having more online activities, certainly, influence the increased number of participants in a specific religion because of increased interaction and participation.

Digital technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate store or process data. Popular examples are social media, online games, multimedia and mobile phones (Victoria State Govt., 2019).

The concept of Digital Religion

Terms like “religion” and “media” can be understood and articulated differently in various social, cultural and geographical locations (Hutchings, et al., 2020). For some people religion is a part of culture and inseparable from their daily lives, for some it is so ‘sacred’ that they have high regard for the same and some others no regard at all.

The “digital religion” concept is investigated as a way to encompass a society with internet technology impacts and influences the culture and religion (Ivanov, 2018). From the daily ritualistic practices to pilgrimages, many things are digitalized. For example, by watching YouTube some of the rituals can be practiced. Online bookings start from darshan (the meeting of a devotee of Hinduism with a holy person or guru, Collin’s dictionary, 2021) to different forms of rituals in temples. Apart from this, services like advance booking for accommodation and the other such services are common.

Digital Religion refers to not only religion, which is carried out online, but also the way digital media interrelate with religious practice and belief (Zeiler, 2019). Digital Religion is online religious activities and the interrelation of digital media with religious practice and belief (Fig.2).

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Fig.2: The concept of Digital Religion

Digital religion is a critical and organised survey of the study of religion and new media. It covers religious practices with a huge range of new media forms and engagement of new media in all five of the major world religions, from cell phones and video games to blogs and Second Life (Campbell, 2013). New media is a “means of mass communication using digital technologies such as the internet” (Oxford, 2020). New media include blogs, websites, email, mobiles, laptops, tablets, social platforms, online education, etc.

In other words, Digital religion is using digital media to facilitate contemporary religious practices along with culture. Digital religion is a systematic study of religion and new media forms to cover religious practices of major religions of the World. The new digital media ranges from cell phones to Second Life.

The practice of digital religion can be investigated through the study of religious rituals online. Religious rituals are understood as acts performed with and within media: a definition that allows us to understand how the Internet reconfigures and facilitates ritualized religious practices (Campbell & Rule, 2016). Though research is going on digital religion studies, there are not many investigations and practical approaches on digital religion. This study is an attempt to focus on the digital religion studies with regard to digital technologies in the contemporary society.

Methodology

In the present study, opinion of digital religious teachers and students has been collected using technology, that is, internet and mobile phone. Religion in this study includes different religious rituals, reading of holy books, and recitation of verses, yoga and meditation.

The total number of participant digital teachers is 97. All of the teachers, who are participants in this study, are not teaching digitally. Some of them are teaching only through traditional mode. Questionnaires are administered online. Teachers have been interviewed telephonically through structured and semi-structured interviews and chatting. Teachers have been interviewed telephonically due to the limitations of personal gatherings and face-to-face interaction. Results have been analysed both the ways: qualitatively and quantitatively.

Profiles of digital religious teachers and candidates

Profiles of digital religious teachers and candidates have been mentioned in the following paragraphs separately.

Digital religious teachers’ profile

The participant teachers in this survey are different kinds: Some of them are teaching only through online, some of them are teaching both digitally and online, the others are teaching only through traditional methods. A majority of these teachers teach yoga and meditation to the candidates who belong to different religions of the world. Teachers are interviewed over phone and filled forms online and also through chatting.

Digital religious candidates’ profile

Candidates, who practice digital religion in this research, belong to different religions and spread out throughout the World totalling 295. Most of them practice yoga and meditation. Some of the candidates practice traditional methods through digital technology. The others practice religion through traditional methods without any digital technology.

Analysis of results

After collecting the data from teachers and candidates, the data has been analysed and presented separately as teachers’ opinion and candidates’ opinion.

Digital religious teachers’ opinion

Questionnaires were answered online and orally though phone. The answers have been summarised and analysed under various themes in the following paragraphs.

Awareness on digital religious practices: All teacher participants are aware of digital religious practices and a majority of them are already practising digital religion. Some of them have been started during the pandemic, Covid-19.

Possibility to practice only digital religion leaving out the traditional practices: Around one third of the teachers opined that it is possible to practice only digital religion leaving out the traditional practices. However a majority of the participants feel that it is not possible to practice only digital religion leaving out the traditional practices. They would prefer to have personal interaction with their teachers and religious performances.

Digital religion fulfils the ritualistic needs of different religions: According to 30% of the teachers, digital religion fulfils the ritualistic needs of different religions. However, another one third of teachers do not completely agree with this opinion. The remaining teachers do not agree that digital religion fulfils the ritualistic needs of different religions.

The advantages of digital religion over the traditional religious practices: Through online mode, God has been freed out from traditional doctrine to become everything to everybody (Krotoski, A, 2011). Since online religious practices are “anywhere & anytime”, several teachers have accepted its importance. Similarly, Singaporean religious leaders fully embrace the Internet, with a broad acceptance of whatever “values” it carries with it (Randolph & Pauline, 2007).

Randolph & Pauline’s (2007) results focus the ways in which religious leaders have framed technology in a manner that allow innovative technologies a place in religious practice and demands the integration of information technologies into their religious practice.

Digital religion replaces the traditional religious practices: A majority of the teachers (around 70%) feel that, digital religion replaces the traditional religious practices.

Students are equipped to follow Digital Religion: All of the digital religious teachers’ students follow Digital Religion.

Almost all digital religious teachers follow Digital Religion during the normal times, apart from Covid-19 conditions. The preset study supports the study of Randolph & Pauline’s (2007). Interviews with religious leaders of different sets of faiths in Singapore about how they understand the role of information technology in religious practice unfold an open acceptance of the Internet and other information technologies and a kind of threat to religious faith. In contrast to the proposals of secularization theory, these findings suggest that various religious communities have adopted and in some cases accept the Internet as part of their contemporary religious mission and strategy for growth.

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