THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS IN DIGITAL SPACES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE A Psychology of Religion Perspective Through the Lens of Anthropological Ritual Theory
10. INTERNATIONAL MARMARA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CONGRESS, İstanbul, Türkiye, 27 - 28 Haziran 2025, ss.654-667, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.654-667
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS IN DIGITAL SPACES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
A Psychology of Religion Perspective Through the Lens of Anthropological Ritual Theory
Abstract
The ongoing digitalization of contemporary life is not only reshaping the structural forms and functional dimensions of religious rituals but also transforming the ways in which individuals engage with the sacred. This transformation transcends the mere transposition of ritual practices from physical spaces into digital realms; it entails a profound reconfiguration of psychological dynamics involving contact with the sacred, experiences of communal belonging, identity formation, meaning-making processes, and affective resonance all mediated by digital platforms and the interactive patterns they afford. This study seeks to explore religious ritual experiences within the digital age from the vantage point of the psychology of religion, employing Victor Turner’s ritual theory - with particular emphasis on the concepts of liminality and communitas - as its interpretive framework. Ritual, far from being a mere cultural artifact, plays an essential role in shaping psychological integrity, fostering identity construction, and nurturing a sense of spiritual connectedness. Scholarly literature has long highlighted the capacity of ritual to deepen individuals’ engagement with their faith traditions, enhance inner equilibrium, and reinforce experiences of identity and belonging. In light of this, the present study argues for an approach that attends not only to the formal characteristics of digital ritual practices but also to their psychological effects. The analysis focuses on how religious rituals, when enacted within digital spaces, acquire new layers of meaning and how digitalized forms of worship impact individuals' spiritual experiences generating processes of transformation, connection, or potential alienation. Drawing upon a thematic analysis of qualitative data gathered through in-depth participant interviews, the study elucidates the psychological contours of these emergent ritual forms. Findings reveal that while digital rituals provide avenues for meaning-making, communal affiliation, and spiritual sustenance, they also harbor the risk of superficial engagement, primarily due to the absence of embodied ritual experience and the mediated nature of digital interactions. Ultimately, this study seeks to illuminate the role of religious ritual practices in shaping spiritual experience within digital environments and to interrogate the psychological implications of this evolving ritual landscape.
Keywords: Religious ritual, digital environment, spirituality, ritual theory, liminality, communitas.