University of Colorado researchers are examining how the digital age influences the way people worship and explore their spirituality.
They are finding there is a shift from religion being something located only in houses of worship, and limited to institutions and authorities, to a broader market of media and public and popular culture, said Stewart Hoover, the director of CU’s Center for Media, Religion and Culture.
“The reason this is happening is that people want to take more responsibility for their own religious and spiritual faith and activities,” Hoover said. “The media and culture and entertainment, and a whole range of things like that, give them opportunities to do that but to shape it in their own way, and to seek out the things they’re most interested in.
“… It’s in their hands. It’s something they are in control of.”
One of the ongoing research projects the center is leading is called the Public Religion and Public Scholarship in the Digital Age Project, which brings together 12 researchers from around the world to study the intersection of religion and media, compile best practices so other academics can do the same, and explore how they can best share that information with and involve the public.
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