Digital Religion

📘 About This Book

This book offers a critical and systematic survey of the study of religion and digital media. It covers religious engagement with a wide range of digital media forms and highlights examples of new media engagement in all five of the major world religions. From mobile apps and video games to virtual reality and social media, the book: • provides a detailed review of major topics including ritual, identity, community, authority, and embodiment; • includes a series of engaging case studies to illustrate and elucidate the thematic explorations; • considers the theoretical, ethical, and theological issues raised. This unique volume draws together the work of experts from key disciplinary perspectives and is the go-to volume for students and scholars wanting to develop a deeper understanding of the subject area. Thoroughly updated throughout with new case studies and in-depth analysis of recent scholarship and developments, this new edition provides a comprehensive overview of this fast-paced, constantly developing, and fascinating field.

📖 Summary

Digital Religion by Heidi A. Campbell offers a critical and systematic survey of the evolving intersection between religious studies and digital media. Published in 2021 and spanning 295 pages, this comprehensive volume investigates how faith traditions engage with a wide variety of modern technologies. The book explores the ways in which religious communities and individuals incorporate tools such as mobile applications, video games, virtual reality environments, and social media platforms into their daily practices and spiritual lives. By drawing on the expertise of scholars from diverse disciplinary perspectives, Campbell provides a holistic view of how contemporary technology shapes, challenges, and expands modern religious landscapes across the globe. A major focus of the book is its coverage of new media engagement across all five of the major world religions, demonstrating that the digitization of faith is not isolated to a single culture or theological framework. Instead, the text illustrates how diverse spiritual traditions adapt digital interfaces to suit their distinct rituals, community standards, and theological needs. The volume is structured around key thematic explorations that address foundational concepts in religious studies, including ritual performance, personal and collective identity formation, the nature of online community, shifting paradigms of religious authority, and the theological implications of digital embodiment. To bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and real-world application, Campbell includes a series of engaging case studies throughout the book. These case studies illuminate the complex ways believers navigate virtual sacred spaces, negotiate religious norms online, and grapple with the ethical and theoretical questions raised by technological integration. Readers are encouraged to think deeply about how mediated communication alters traditional understandings of sacred authority and physical presence. Whether examining how rituals are adapted for online audiences or how marginalized voices find new platforms for expression through social media, the text provides nuanced insights into the ongoing digital transformation of sacred life. Ultimately, this foundational resource serves as the go-to volume for anyone seeking to understand the multifaceted relationship between faith and the digital age.

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