Digitalization Theories and Approaches in Sociology of Religion

Year 2022, , 455 - 480, 30.12.2022

Fatma Çiçek

https://doi.org/10.47951/mediad.1188722

Cited By: 1

Abstract

The relationship between digitalization and religion is examined in a multidimensional way under various disciplines. The fact that the theoretical perspectives on the digitalization-religion interaction are scattered in the field makes it difficult for researchers to access data within their field. This study aims to overcome this difficulty; It tries to position the digitalization theories in the literature on the sociology of religion in the field and to clarify the boundaries of the digitalization-religion field. However, this study, which presents a general panorama of theories, does not cover all theoretical perspectives on the field of digitalization-religion. In light of current developments, this study classifies digitalization-religion theories as four basic theories and four smaller approaches that examined the subject within the framework of the main representatives and arguments of the theories with the documentation. The first of these is the "media ecology theory", which emphasizes the determinant of the media environment on the social structure; second, the "mediation theory", which sees the media as an opportunity for social institutions; third, “mediatization theory”, which focuses on the transformative effects of the digitalization process on the social structure at macro, meso, and micro levels; the fourth is the "negotiation theory", which synthesizes the previously expressed theories on the subject. It is possible to position these theories as the basic theories in the field. On the other hand, there are also smaller-scale approaches that read the phenomenon of religion through concepts such as "online religion", "game", "politics and law" and "self-presentation". Theories that examine the relationship between media and religion at the macro level have two tendencies as those that affirm this relationship and those that negate it; On the other hand, it is possible to say that the theories examining at the micro level tend towards more specific analyzes within the framework of the concepts of subject, context, and interaction. It is hoped that this study, which reveals the independent and interrelated aspects of these theoretical perspectives, will contribute to the field by clarifying the boundaries of the digitalization-religion field.

Keywords

Sociology of Religion, Digitalization, Theories of Digitalization

Din Sosyolojisinde Dijitalleşme Teorileri ve Yaklaşımlar

Abstract

Dijitalleşme ve din ilişkisi, çeşitli disiplinler altında çok boyutlu bir biçimde işlenmektedir. Dijitalleşme-din etkileşimine ilişkin ortaya konan teorik perspektiflerin alanda dağınık olarak yer alması, araştırmacıların kendi sahaları kapsamındaki verilere ulaşmasını zorlaştırmaktadır. Söz konusu zorluğu aşma amacını taşıyan bu çalışma; din sosyolojisi literatüründe yer alan dijitalleşme teorilerini alanda konumlandırmaya ve dijitalleşme-din sahasının sınırlarını belirginleştirmeye çalışmaktadır. Ancak teorilerin genel bir panoramasını sunan bu çalışma, dijitalleşme-din sahasına ilişkin tüm teorik perspektifleri kapsamamaktadır. Güncel gelişmeler ışığında dijitalleşme-din teorilerini temel dört teori ve daha küçük kapsamlı dört yaklaşım olarak sınıflayan bu çalışma; konuyu teorilerin başlıca temsilcileri ve temel argümanları çerçevesinde, dökümantasyon yöntemiyle incelemiştir. Bunlardan ilki, medya ortamının sosyal yapı üzerindeki belirleyiciliğini ön plana çıkaran “medya ekolojisi teorisi”; ikincisi, medyayı sosyal kurumlar için bir fırsat olarak değerlendiren “medyalaşma teorisi”; üçüncüsü, dijitalleşme sürecinin sosyal yapı üzerindeki makro, mezo ve mikro düzeydeki dönüştürücü etkilerine odaklanan “medyatikleşme teorisi”; dördüncüsü ise, konuya ilişkin daha önce ifade edilen teorileri sentezleyen “müzakere teorisi”dir. Bu teorileri, alanda yer edinmiş ana teoriler olarak konumlandırmak mümkündür. Öte yandan bunların dışında “çevrimiçi din”, “oyun”, “siyaset ve hukuk” ve “benlik sunumu” gibi kavramlar üzerinden din fenomenini okuyan daha küçük ölçekli yaklaşımlar da bulunmaktadır. Sonuç olarak medya ve din ilişkisini makro düzlemde inceleyen teorilerin, bu ilişkiyi olumlayanlar ve olumsuzlayanlar olarak temelde iki eğilime sahip olduğunu; mikro düzlemde inceleyen teorilerin ise özne, bağlam ve etkileşim kavramları çerçevesinde daha spesifik analizlere yöneldiğini söylemek mümkündür. Söz konusu teorik perspektiflerin, gerek bağımsız gerekse birbirleriyle ilişkili olan yönlerini ortaya koyan bu çalışmanın, dijitalleşme-din sahasının sınırlarını belirginleştirmesi açısından alana katkı sağlaması umulmaktadır.

Keywords

Din Sosyolojisi, Dijitalleşme, Dijitalleşme Teorileri, Sociology of Religion, Digitalization, Theories of Digitalization

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