DIGITIZATION & NEODOCETISM: Generation Z’s Understanding of Their Bodies In Light of Expanding Digital Existences

The purpose of this study is to examine how Christian therapists and professors describe the impact of digitization on Generation Z’s bodily self-concept. Generation Z has grown up with phones in their hands and with their friends in their phones. Pastors must consider the effects digitization will have on the iGen and give substantial reflection on how digitized ecclesiologies contribute to gnostic instincts in the information age. This study utilized a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with seven Christian therapists and professors with extensive experience working with Generation Z. The interviews focused on gaining data with three research questions: 1) How do Christian therapists and professors describe Gen Z’s self-understanding of their bodies? 2) How do Christian therapists and professors describe the impact of digitization on Gen Z’s views of their bodies? 3) How do Christian therapists and professors advise ministry leaders to minister to Gen Z concerning Gen Z Christians’ views of their bodies? The literature review focused on four key areas to understand ministry in this context: theology of the body, theology of technology, digital effect on bodily self-concept, and Generation Z’s relationship with digitization. This study concluded that digitization contributes to overly developed dualistic instincts in Generation Z. This reduces personhood to cognition, promotes dissociative tendencies regarding bodily processes, dislodges the self from place, and fragments self-concept. Ministry leaders ought to resist the effects of digitization by means of teaching a robust theology of the body, training parents, facilitating embodied experiences, and helping Generation Z see the goodness of congruence in Christ.