The digitalization of religion
Annual theme 2023/2024 of the Cluster of Excellence
Digitalization is transforming all areas of society, including religion and research on religion. But there has been little research so far on the relationship between digitalization and religion, which may be due to the fact that progress in digital technology has been assigned to ‘rationality’ and thought of as being the opposite of ‘religion’.
The fourth annual theme, “The digitalization of religion: Participation and belonging in a networked world”, addresses this issue from two perspectives.
Discussion focuses in the winter term of 2023/24 on the usefulness of digital tools for religion and research on religion – more specifically, on how far the digital can be seen as a new arena of religious practice, and how far it expands the study of religion.
The focus in the summer term of 2024 is on the religious in digital worlds, i.e. how far religion and spirituality can be thought of anew in the digital world. This ranges from traditional religious communities that are trying out new forms of religion on the web and social media, to new ideological movements that are spreading conspiracy theories on the internet and decorating them with religious elements.
The annual theme presents current research work from the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics”, gives a voice to researchers from different disciplines and from outside the university, and brings them into conversation with representatives of different religious groups and with the general public. A film series “Digital and transhuman?” focuses on how pop culture addresses the interpenetration of religion and digitality. Read More