Religious Communication, Interaction and Transformation in a Culture of Digitality: Insights into the Zurich University Research Priority Program Digital Religions

The articles in this volume present research insights from the interdisciplinary University Research Priority Program (UFSP) ‘Digital Religion(s). Interaction, communication and transformation in the Digital Society’ (2021-2032). The first phase of the twelve-year research program explored in theology, religious studies, linguistics and computational linguistics, sociology, media and communication studies, and law, how individual and institutional religious actors communicate in different fields of digital religious practice and assert their public claim for orientation.

The articles give insights, from different disciplinary perspectives, how the URPP ‘Digital Religion(s)’ has researched the main question of how current digitalisation dynamics influence, shape and transform the religious practice of individuals and institutions. The topics and content of the research include religious identity formation and the development of collaborative online-offline networks, media communication practices of mourning and pastoral care, and phenomena of religion-related digital education. In addition, this volume provides insights into the current research questions and contexts of ‘artificial intelligence and religion’. Finally, a further overview article presents possibilities and potentials for future interdisciplinary and, at the same time, further international research in this highly dynamic field of research.

Thomas Schlag und Katharina Yadav, Universität Zürich, Schweiz.

Thomas Schlag and Katharina Yadav, University of Zurich, Switzerland.