Religion

Communication is at the very heart of all religions. From the presence of religion on the Internet to the effects of religious beliefs on popular advertising, communication and media are integral to religion and the expression of religious belief. The ongoing process of transformation of religion from state-centered to society-centered institution is making political communication increasingly vital for religious institutions, policy-makers, and public opinion at large. Communication of a political character will become an essential aspect of the activities of religions, within a general process of the “mediatization of society” and the challenge of new interactive technologies. These changes have forced social scientists to place religion in an increasingly international, comparative, and global framework, whether their interest is in fundamentalism, charismatic Christianity, new religious movements, or any other major topic of research. The increased awareness of the relevance of the issues involved promises to yield a substantial growth in our knowledge of the interplay between religion and communication.