This course explores the intersection of technology, spirituality, and contemporary culture, delving into the realm of digital religion and alternative forms of spiritual expression. Students will critically analyze the impact of digital platforms on religious practices, examining the evolution and diversification of spirituality in the digital age. Through case studies and interdisciplinary perspectives, the course evaluates the role of social groups, immersive experiences, and digital narratives in shaping modern spiritual beliefs and practices. The curriculum navigates the realms of imagined communities, online rituals, and the emergence of alternative spiritual movements facilitated by technological advancements. Exploring ethical implications, the course investigates issues of identity, authenticity and authority in the context of new forms of mediated spirituality. Content: 1. Digital Communities, online church and congregations 2. Online rituals and sacred spaces 3. Alternative spiritual movements 4. Convergent culture of digital spirituality 5. Ethics and authenticity in digital religion 6. Religious identity 7. Changes of Authority in digital religion 8. Spiritual experiences in virtual space 9. Spiritual narratives mediated 10. Digital storytelling and belief formation 11. Cultural diversity and globalization of religious practices 12. Inter-religious dialog online
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Students receive credit for 80% attendance and continuous fulfillment of course requirements during the semester, especially preparation for seminar classes and participation in discussions. The final exam combines written and oral forms. Compulsory reading: CAMPBELL, Heidi. Understanding the Relationship between Religion Online and Offline in a Networked Society. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 2012. 80(1), 64-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/41348770 CAMBBELL, Heidi . a TSURIA, Ruth. Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in Digital Media. Routledge. 2021. ČSÚ. Náboženská víra: Obyvatelstvo podle náboženské víry. Sčítání 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.czso.cz/csu/scitani2021/nabozenska-vira GUZEK, Damian. Discovering the Digital Authority: Twitter as Reporting Tool for Papal Activities. Online - Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet, 2015. 9, 63-80. https://doi.org/10.11588/rel.2015.0.26251 TSURIA, Ruth. Digital Media: When God Becomes Everybody - The Blurring of Sacred and Profane. Religions. 2021. 12(2), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12020110. Recommended reading: CAMPBELL, Heidi a EVOLVI, Giulia. Contextualizing current digital religion research on emerging technologies. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2020. 2(1), 5-17. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.149, hdl.handle.net/1765/133028 CAMPBELL, Heidi a VITULLO, Allesandro. Assessing changes in the study of religious communities in digital religion studies. Church, Communication and Culture. 2016. 1(1) 73-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/23753234.2016.11813 EVOLVI, Giulia. Blogging My Religion: Secular, Muslim, and Catholic Media Spaces in Europe. Routledge. 2019. GUZEK, Damian. Mediatizing Secular State: Media, Religion and Politics in Contemporary Poland. Peter Lang. 2019. https://doi.org/10.3726/b15404 KOłODZEIJSKA, Marta. Online Catholic Communities: Community, Authority, and Religious Individualization. Routledge. 2018. MÜLLEROVÁ, Veronika a FRANC, Jaroslav. The Papacy in the Digital Age: The End of the Imperative. Studia Theologica. 2022. 24(2), 87-112. https://doi.org/10.5507/sth.2022.019
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