Virtual religion and individual religiosity

Organizer: Jørgen Straarup, Umeå University, Sweden.  Jorgen.Straarup@religion.umu.se

Alongside the religion taking place in the physical world, a world of virtual religion is developing on the Internet. Some of this religion may be described as supplementary to religion in the physical world; the activities and forms of an ordinary parish or congregation “in the flesh” are being supplemented by activities on the Internet, but directed and formed by the same kind of leadership as in the physical world. Other parts of this virtual religion may be seen as attempts at replacing religion in the physical world, maybe from the assumption that ordinary religion is not representing the same – true – values and thoughts that the Internet religion represents. Both forms, however, are based on the same evaluation mechanism, that of individual experience. Religion in the physical as well as the virtual world depend on individuals’ characterization of the activities as meaningful and worthwhile.
The session invites papers dealing theoretical and empirical issues of the sociological study of virtual religion (and religiosity), and their relationship to activities in the physical world.