Religious communities and the internet - Heidi Campbell

'The Internet is like a knife. You can use it to peel fruits or to kill someone. But that does not mean that the knife is bad’ (Kali Nock 2006). 

The internet is a technology which combines different opportunities. Considered this phenomenon in the background of religions several similarities with the handling of media can be noticed. Campbell took a closer look at this issue. In general the use of media related to the religious tradition and the practice of life, but also the influence of the religious leader shouldn't be underestimated in this context.

 

In the course of the 1980s, the internet was used for religious purposes. Religious forums, online services and even online churches were built. But also new religious movements originated in the internet, such as the Church of Fools. In the course of time, various religious forms evolved, although as a spiritual network, a worship space, a missionary tool, a religious identity and a functional technology, this shows clearly the religious diversity on the internet. But Campbell looks closer is at the dealing between the internet and several religions, namely Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Judaism uses the internet in different ways, be it as a dating platform or as a recipe collection for kosher meals. The ultra-Orthodox see a danger in the internet and in some communities it was banned. In the course of time, the ban was eased, but viewed as a potential source of danger. For this reason Koshernet was developed, which automatically blocked all secular parties and dangers. But, the internet serves as a tool for many Jews.

A similar track can be seen in Islam, where the informational character is the core motivation of use of the internet. They wanted to bring their religion closer to non-believers and help Muslims to understand their own faith.

Nevertheless, Christianity is the religion represented on the most on the internet. In this new medium, they see a new mission area. The Catholic Church took advantage of this, like the creation of a Vatican Web site. But there are again negative opinions that bring the internet with danger in conjunction.

Campbell comes to the conclusion that the Internet can help to spread religions and religious rituals, it could also cause the problem, that there is a distinction between online and offline traditions. 

References:

Campbell H. 2010. When Religion Meets New Media. London & New York: Routledge. Ebook. Ch. 1: Religious Communities and the Internet.

Picture 1: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/images/i/1101/i02/religion-internet11110202.jpg?1323472998

Picture 2: https://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/3000132/1/stock-photo-3000132-god-save-my-pc.jpg

The Evolution of Religious Branding

Through the freedom to choose an own belief, religious markets have grown strongly in recent times. Churches have developed their own marketing strategies, such as Scientology and the United Methodist Church (UMC).

Previously, the Church served as a place for social contacts, this is now replaced by the workplace. Some churches react on these social changes by offering shorter and entertaining services. Through the new method of religious branding the Church is a reputable product by a combination of symbols, language and mythology. After that a return to the tradition will follow. 

Scientology, founded by Ron Hubbard, recorded a strong growth after 60 second advertising film, which presents different types of people in the 20s and 30s ages, also the music and the images matched together. The issue was that the lives of the most persons are not in order and this could only be done through Scientology. 

Also the UMC has developed an advertising film "Open heards. Open minds. Open doors ". They tried to adapt to the needs of the viewer. Because a lot of young people are looking for a meaning in their lives and would refer themselves as spiritual.

If you look closely at the two commercials, Scientology has the aims to sell Hubbard’s books and CDs. The UMC is more complex, they want to promote Christianity and not just the UMC. “Religious branding will continue to be an important marketing tool for faith institutions.” (337)

Reference:

Mara Einstein, The Evolution of Religious Branding, Social Compass, 2011 58: 331-338

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCMkaBIg4O4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1RaKWS6jb4

 

If Pain Persists: Linde Ivimey Sculpture

Linde Ivimey's exhibition is amazing. The sculptures are made of different bones. During the gallery tour I felt a lot of impressions and especially the sculpture "The Thumper" spark different thoughts off. The sculpture with the butterfly symbolized for me innocent and peace. The poem of Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg came into my mind.

Butterflies 

by Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg

Who hears butterflies laughing; this one knows how clouds are taste.

This one will explore the night in moonshine without fear.

…this one, who becomes a plant, if he wants. To an animal, to a fool, to a philosopher.

And he can travel through the world in one hour.

… this one, who knows, that he nothing knows, how everybody else also nothing knows,

Only he knows, what the others, and he has to learn.

… this one, who feels themselves in foreign bank and has the courage to stretch themselves;

This one will gradually explore itself, without fear.

Down to the tops of himself he looks up.

He takes the fight with his underworld on left.

… this one, who is in peace with himself, will die in peace

And is even more alive than any of his heirs.

The Thumper

Reference:

The Thumper: http://www.artmuseum.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=177757.

 

Do You Believe in Rock and Roll? Musical Cults of the Sacred Popular

"Traditional religions are thus much like vinyl recordings, being replaced by new technologies“ (Till 2010, 186). Traditional religions are in decrease because young people found their own places of worship within music culture. This pop cults become an important place for belief and identity. For example popular music plays a major role at virtualized moments in people’s lives like at weddings or funerals. But the traditional church hold on hymn of Victorian religious practise. Because of this New Religious Movements (NRM) have arised through the pop cults due to the fact that they get in touch with youth people. This "cult is based on practises rather than beliefs“ (172) and a result of the culture changing.

Fowler describes in his book Stages of Faith (1981) six stages. The first stage is a naive and immature fashion. The next two stages including the pop cult, on the one hand the teen pop cult, which is an uncontrolled uncritical belief and on the other hand the synthetic- conventional faith. There is also the individuative-reflective stage, in this station is a mid-life crise anchored. But pop cults could be a bridge or an escape of this crises.

According to Till the religious tradition cannot fit tot he contemporary culture and for that reason a pop cult arises.  For young people it is soften a sign of rebellion and an attempted escape of the reality. During the time several pop cults come into being for example pop drug cults, pop death cults, virtual cults and local cults. A consequence of this development is the decline of communicating and interactivity.

Music is the key element of popular culture and with this element they have an enormous power like on charity festivals. At the same moment it is associated with religion. Pop cults are religions. “Saints and religious figures have been replaced in pop cults by pop stars“ (184). Popular music become to a social force because traditional religions couldn’t help their members anymore. But religion is still a social technology, which "has lost conncetion with the culture of contemporary society“ (178).

Reference:

Till, R. 2010. Pop Cult: Religion and Popular Music. London: Continuum International Publishing, Ch. 9, Do You Believe in Rock and Roll. Musical Cults of the Sacred Popular. 168-192 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI