Mosques, Churches, and Technology in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Abstract Digital religion in Southeast Asia is a rapidly growing field of practice, but it remains an understudied one, with limited research documenting and analyzing the phenomenon across the region. The rapid increase of internet connectivity in many parts of the region, coupled with the great diversity of cultures, will cause many forms of digital religion to emerge as a response to local customs and needs. One of the challenges of building a research strength in this region is its cultural diversity, making generalizations difficult. Yet it is necessary to develop a practical model for researching digital religion in Southeast Asia. Using Christianity and Islam as a focal point, this chapter attempts to provide a survey of the different types of research that have been done on Christianity and Islam and their intersections with digital technology in Southeast Asia, and how cultural complexities allow for a range of expressions of digital religion. In addition, the circuit of culture model of communication is proffered as a theoretical tool to systematically catalogue and analyze how digital technologies play a part in the continuously evolving field of digital religion in Southeast Asia.