[Commlist] call for papers: Digital religion II: online communities workshop

*Call for papers - workshop: /_Digital religion II: online 
_//_communities_/*

*November 2.-4. 11. 2023*

In the present discourse about the development of digital humanities and 
digital religion, many questions are being raised in the research of 
digital religious studies and theology. While using technology as an 
educational tool and appreciating the pluses of digital culture, it is 
mainly the understanding of digital culture as a space for new spiritual 
and religious activities.

New communication technologies are now imposing new meaning-making 
schemes on religious entities (Tsuria, 2021; Campbell, Evolvi, 2020). 
Religious communities online transcended the lines between online and 
offline, as demonstrated by the diversity of sources and a very rigorous 
approach to treating a holy book or religious leader as an authority to 
discourse (Campbell & Tsuria, 2021; Guzek, 2015). Campbell (2012) 
introduced the theoretical concept of “online religion” and emphasized 
several basic features of how religion is done differently online and 
offline in the digital age.

The growing mediatization of religion is accelerating secularization by 
individualizing activities and fragmenting religious beliefs (Lundby, 
2016) because the gap between offline and online religious practices is 
being bridged (Lövheim, 2012). The transformation of digital religion 
brings new convergent forms religious involvement among believers via 
social networks. Smartphones have enabled users to develop their online 
identities and perform traditional and new religious rituals through 
applications, digital games, and chat groups (Campbell & Vitullo, 2016; 
Hepp, 2019; Evolvi, 2022; Campbell, 2021). Not only followers but also 
religious authorities and spiritual gurus are interacting online today.

The core of our interest is an analysis of the current relationship 
between technological progress, spirituality and sacred space. How do 
religious authorities reinforce their offline influence through social 
media presence? What are believers' new forms of religious involvement 
via social networks? And how are spirituality and religion represented 
in contemporary media?

The workshop aims to discuss the influence of new communication 
technologies on forming contemporary religious communities. It concerns 
an interdisciplinary area that examines to what extent traditional 
religious practice adapts to the digital environment and how aspects of 
digital culture form life patterns of offline religious groups.

*The workshop will feature, but is not limited to, the following 
interconnected dimensions:*

/I)//Digital religion: religiosity and spirituality online/

II)/Religious communities and religious practices in convergent culture/

III)/Religious influencers using digital communication/

IV)/Representation of spirituality and religion in media/

The workshop goal is to connect researchers from various fields who are 
studying religion in connection to online media, share their up-to-date 
research findings, and discuss possibilities for further joint research. 
The secondary aim is to create an international research network that 
could apply to Europe‘s research funding (e.g. Twinning projects).

the chosen form of the workshop should enable closer cooperation between 
the participants and intensive discussion of the discussed topics. the 
meeting is the second in a series of workshops and follows on from the 
successful start of the tradition last year

*We welcome postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and 
advanced scholars* worldwide to share their ideas and findings on 
ongoing projects. Participants with various disciplinary backgrounds: 
religion studies, media and communication studies, sociology, cultural 
studies, film studies, anthropology, and theology are welcome. A maximum 
of 25 participants will be selected from the sent abstracts. We search 
for participants who will be able to represent their institution 
simultaneously and establish research networks in the future.

If you would like to participate in the workshop, please submitt an 
abstract (cca 250 words) of your paper and short bio (up to 200 words) 
through the webpages of the conference 
https://www.ethicsinmedia.eu/digital-religion 
<https://www.ethicsinmedia.eu/digital-religion>.

Deadline for abstract submission: 31st August 2023

Abstract acceptance notification: 18th September 2023

The presented papers could be published in a special issue of the 
journal /Studia theologica/https://www.studiatheologica.eu/ 
<https://www.studiatheologica.eu/>.

The edited volume (monography) on /Digital spirituality/ printed by 
Palacky University Publisher will be prepared from the selected papers, 
which will be reviewed by two independent reviewers. The editorial board 
of the Reader will apply for the volume to be indexed in Scopus. 
Deadline for chapters submission (if accepted): 31st December 2023.

Conference fee: 100 Euro all participants (organization of the 
conference and two dinners included)



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