Abstract - The Information Society 21(4)

Making Space for Religion in Internet Studies

Heidi Campbell

This paper seeks to address how religion fits into the larger domain of Internet studies and why studies of religion within CMC need to be given more attention. An argument is made for the need to take religion online more seriously, not just because it is an interesting phenomena or a popular use of the Internet, but also because religion continues to be an important part of contemporary life for many people. A summary of the growth and development of religion online is presented along with an overview of how religion has been approached and studied on the Internet. This review shows what CMC studies of religion might offer in approaching research questions related to authority, identity construction and community online. It calls for recognition of the contribution and possibilities that under-represented areas within interdisciplinary research, like religion, might offer Internet studies as a whole.

 

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