On-line rituals: a new field of research: neo-pagan and Muslim cyber rituals

Abstract

Although secularisation and institutional specialisation have reduced the importance and influence of churchoriented religion, people still have a need for religion and transcendence. By looking at two so-called on-line rituals — a neo-pagan blot and a Muslim dhikr, the author examines and illustrates how religiosity may be articulated on the Internet. Although Internet research is often discussed in relation to methodological and theoretical problems, rituals performed on-line should be included in the academic study of religion. Common problems associated with Internet research (questions of representation, source criticism, etc.) in themselves stimulate the development of new methods and theories for studying on-line religiosity.

Keywords

• Religious change
• Secularization (Sociology)
• Internet
• Information technology
• Globalization
• Implicit religion