Here is the recorded webinar from Dr. Heidi Campbell, Assoc Prof, Texas A&M University. heidic@tamu.edu. Scroll down for the notes and additional information.
Here is the link to the recent article she wrote about this topic.
Here is a summary outline from the presentation…
¨Networked Religion represents a loosening or re-presentation of traditional boundaries of religious communities to reflect more dynamic and fluid forms of affiliation and practice.
Characteristics of Networked Religion
1. Convergent Practice
– Personalized blending of information & rituals.
– Internet serves as a spiritual hub allowing people to assemble and personalize religious behavior and belief.
– Tension: Offering guidance and instruction to people who draw spiritual wisdom and practices from multiple sources and traditions.
2. Multi-site Reality
– Embedded online-offline connections.
– Recognizing the interconnectedness or embeddedness of online and offline contexts.
– Tension: Offline contexts may no longer serve as primary source for spiritual connections and knowledge.
3. Networked Community
– Loosely-bounded social networks.
4. Storied Identity
– Fluid & dynamic identity construction.
– Identity is constructed & performed online, encouraging malleable self-presentations.
– Tension: Religious Identity becomes flexible and highly personalized, impacting wider understandings of what it means to be Christian.
5. Shifting Authority
– Simultaneous empowerment & challenge of authority.
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