"Digital Spiritualities answers many of the questions of the Christian faithful and scholars of religion about the sustainability of Christian fellowship in an era of COVID-19. Its deft analysis of the creativity of Christians on issues of online lived Pentecostalism, viz, online evangelization, online liturgy and online network formation make this book an invaluable text for scholars of African Pentecostalism. The book is a critical contribution to, and in the vanguard of, an emerging scholarship on online Christian fellowship among the African diaspora." Olufunke Adeboye PhD, Professor of Social History & Dean of Arts, University of Lagos

As humans charge up the steep slope of technological innovation, digital age media increasingly shapes our perception of everything--even spiritual matters. The next stage of spiritual development may be the product of a digital interface between our own image of the divine, virtual reality technology that produces real perceptions, and with devices that stimulate areas of the brain associated with spiritual experience. This book explores the influence of digital media on spirituality and the impact of the digital environment on our experience of the spiritual world. The author predicts a future in which digital technology and neuroscience will combine to create a new understanding of the divine. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Few religious leaders have examined the potential for the positive impact of digital media and digital immortality creation in religious contexts. It is evident that there have been recent moves away from traditional funeral services focusing on the transition of the deceased into the future world beyond, towards a rise of memorial content within funerals and commemorative events. This has heralded shifts in afterlife beliefs by replacing them, to all intents and purposes, by attitudes to this life. Digital Afterlife and the Spiritual Realm explores the ways in which digital media and digital afterlife creation affects social and religious understandings of death and the afterlife. Features Understands the impact of digital media on those living and those working with the bereaved Explores the impact of digital memorialisation post death Examines the ways in which digital media may be changing conceptions and theologies of death For many people, digital afterlife and the spiritual realm largely remains an area that is both inchoate and confusing. This book will begin to unravel some of this bafflement.

In many contemporary and popular forms of religious practice, digital technology and the spiritual are inseparable. Ranging from streaming broadcasts of spiritual possessions to screenings of mass prayer conferences in stadiums, spirits and divinities now have new forms in which they can materialise. By offering the notion of ‘digital spirits’, this book critically attends to the intersections of digital media and spiritual beings. It also puts forward a new performative perspective on how they interact. Taking cues from the work of Stewart Hoover and Heidi Campbell, among others, the book begins with an outline of the current debates around religion, performance and digital media. It then moves on to examine how mediality and religion, where embodied practices are carried out alongside virtual practices, work together in contemporary Asia. These case studies focus on lived religious practices in combination with various forms of media, and so help demonstrate that digital technology in particular reveals the layered processes of spirituality in practice. Gods and divinities have always relied on media to manifest, and this book is a fascinating exploration of how digital media has continued that tradition and taken it in new directions. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of religious studies, digital media and performance studies.

It's the end of the church as we know it. In a digitally connected world, people are seeking spiritual answers through pop culture. Instead of retreating, Christians must "rethink the sacred" and enter global conversations about God--in film, literature, TV, and music--or face extinction, argues Barry Taylor in Entertainment Theology. Taking snapshots from theology, cultural studies, sociology, and pop culture, Taylor explores a myriad of factors affecting religious life since the 1970s, including technology, fashion, celebrity, and global communications. He exhorts a move away from traditional Christian religion, proposing instead a manifestation of Christianity as a religion not of the past but of the present and the future. For scholars, seminary students, culture watchers, and emerging-church readers, Entertainment Theology offers thought-provoking hope for Christianity's future.

In this groundbreaking book, Holly Arin guides readers on a journey into the uncharted territory where AI and spirituality converge. A New Paradigm of Spirituality Holly Arin envisions a future where AI becomes a catalyst for spiritual awakening. AI-powered tools can facilitate meditation, enhance self-awareness, and even provide guidance on spiritual practices. This merging of technology and spirituality promises to transform our relationship with the divine. Embracing the AI Revolution Holly Arin acknowledges the ethical and philosophical implications of AI's role in spirituality. It is crucial to establish responsible guidelines and ensure that AI is used for the betterment of humanity. By embracing the potential of AI while navigating its challenges, we can harness its power to elevate our spiritual lives. A Must-Read for Spiritual Seekers and AI Enthusiasts The Digital Oracle is a thought-provoking and inspiring guide for anyone seeking to expand their spiritual awareness in the era of AI. Holly Arin provides a compelling framework for understanding the intersection of these two transformative forces, offering a glimpse into a future where AI and spirituality coexist in harmony.

This book examines the influence of digital culture and technology on religion and spirituality in the 21st century. It helps us explore the spiritual afterlife in new and highly useful ways. Digital spirituality offers us a way to live on beyond our physical presence on earth, not just as a digital legacy, but in the forms of digital consciousness and digital soul. Digital spirituality also provides us with a way, while we are still alive, to improve and prepare ourselves for the journey beyond. As we use the digital world, and experience its intricate web, it changes what lies inside us. Our spiritual consciousness deepens and broadens, offering us a new experiential bridge to the previously unknown. Just as we work with God in co-creating our lives on earth, we can work with God in cyberspace to co-create our afterlife. The prospects of digital spirituality are at once exhilarating and terrifying. The 19th-century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard reminds us, "Without risk, there is no faith." Our faith is worth the risk, and Digital Spirituality helps us risk a new spiritual understanding to strengthen our faith in the 21st century. Don Iannone, D. Div., Author, Digital Spirituality

This book examines the current use of digital media in religious engagement and how new media can influence and alter faith and spirituality. As technologies are introduced and improved, they continue to raise pressing questions about the impact, both positive and negative, that they have on the lives of those that use them. The book also deals with some of the more futuristic and speculative topics related to transhumanism and digitalization. Including an international group of contributors from a variety of disciplines, chapters address the intersection of religion and digital media from multiple perspectives. Divided into two sections, the chapters included in the first section of the book present case studies from five major religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism and their engagement with digitalization. The second section of the volume explores the moral, ideological but also ontological implications of our increasingly digital lives. This book provides a uniquely comprehensive overview of the development of religion and spirituality in the digital age. As such, it will be of keen interest to scholars of Digital Religion, Religion and Media, Religion and Sociology, as well as Religious Studies and New Media more generally, but also for every student interested in the future of religion and spirituality in a completely digitalized world.

Since the publication of the ground-breaking first edition, there has been an exponential growth in research and literature about the digital world and its enormous potential benefits and threats. Fully revised and updated, this new edition brings together an expertly curated and authoritative overview of the impact and emerging horizons of digital consumption. Divided into sections, it addresses key topics including digital entertainment, self-representation, communication, Big Data, digital spirituality, online surveillance, and algorithmic advertising. It explores developments such as consumer data collection techniques, peer-to-peer payment systems, augmented reality, and AI-enhanced consumer well-being, as well as digital transgression, secrecy, crypto-currencies, NFTs, and cultural concerns such as the spread of conspiracy theories and fake news. From digital influencers, digital nomads, and digital neo-tribalism to robots and cyborgs, it explores existences that blur boundaries between humans and machines, reality and the metaverse, and the emerging "technoculture" – a state of all-encompassing digital being. This unique volume is an essential resource for scholars, practitioners, and policy makers, and will continue to provide a new generation of readers with a deep understanding of the universe of digital consumption.

The experts here provide conceptual frameworks and guidance by examining the subject in the light of current developments at multiple levels of analysis: individual, organizational, cultural, and in leadership. Spirituality in the workplace considers employees as a whole, in spirit, body, and mind.