International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 6 Issue 6, September-October 2022 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Digital Theology: An Overview

Matthew N. O. Sadiku1, Uwakwe C. Chukwu2, Abayomi Ajayi-Majebi3, Sarhan M. Musa1
1
Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
2
Department of Engineering Technology, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, USA
3
Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH, USA

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Matthew N. O.

Digital theology is the use of digital technologies to communicate, Sadiku | Uwakwe C. Chukwu | Abayomi
mediate, or teach theology. It is a discipline situated within the field Ajayi-Majebi | Sarhan M. Musa "Digital
of practical theology. It essentially explores the mutual relationship Theology: An Overview" Published in
International Journal
between theology and digital technologies. The digitalization of
of Trend in
religion transforms the way we practice, experience, worship, and
Scientific Research
reshape our faiths. Our beliefs are products of the technology and and Development
information to which we have access. The media (or channels) we (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-
choose to communicate a message alters the message. Society has a 6470, Volume-6 |
role in governing and adapting technology for human use. The Issue-6, October IJTSRD52243
Church has the option to change the way it does “media.” It has been 2022, pp.2068-
claimed that the media are today the most credible sources of social 2071, URL:
and cultural information. This paper provides an overview on the www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd52243.pdf
relationship and challenges of digital technology on church and faith.
Copyright © 2022 by author(s) and
KEYWORDS: technology, digitalization, digital technology, digital International Journal of Trend in
theology, digital religion, online religion Scientific Research and Development
Journal. This is an
Open Access article
distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

INTRODUCTION
The digital age or information age, with its prolific religion plays an important role. Religious practices
use of the Internet and social media, has created many are embedded in people’s everyday lives. Individuals
changes in human society—from the way we work, can choose to ignore mediating authorities as they can
relate, and worship around the world. Internet also directly access online content on their own. Digital
provides the means to search for God in ways theology shares many elements with online religion.
different from the traditional channels. With about Like online religion, digital theology refers to
half of the world's population having access to the religious participation occurring online, as shown in
Internet, this technology is also changing the way we Figure 1 [2]. The last few decades has witnessed a
maintain religious and spiritual life. The digital age rapid transformation in the study of religion.
calls for theological reflections that may lead to a new Although digital theology has roots in traditional
brand of theology called digital theology or religions, it has developed independently.
cybertheology [1].
Technological innovations are causing social changes
Religion is recognized as a social-cultural system of across many aspects of life in the twenty-first century.
designated behaviors, practices, morals, beliefs, Digital technology is a major cultural force which has
worldviews, ethics, and other elements that relate to significant bearings on human societies. It changes
supernatural, spiritual, and sacred. Theology takes the way that theology is taught and disseminated. It
God and His relationship to human beings as its dictates where theological communications can take
subject matters. Studying theology seems to be an act place and who can participate in them. Whether we
of intellectual humility. The humility comes from like or not, digital technology is ubiquitous and is
theology’s assumption to know the transcendent God. becoming part of our everyday life. The Christian
The digitalization of religion transforms the way we church is changing through its engagement with
practice our faith and worship. In a healthy society, social media and its use of digital technology in

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
worship, in pastoral practice, and in evangelism. The Digital Level 2: This is theological research
COVID-19 pandemic compelled many churches to enabled by digitalization or digital culture, in
run services online, from zoom services to online which the discipline of theology itself is
communion, with the implications of digitizing transformed using digital technologies. All the
church services. Three major transformations related contributors continue to engage in research and
to the global COVID-19 pandemic have been writing, whether at homes or on campus.
observed. The first is the move of worship into the
Digital Level 3: This is a sustained and reflexive
online environment. The second transformation is that
theologically-resourced engagement with
seminaries and divinity schools have been moving in
digitality and digital culture. The increase in
the direction of online learning like other higher
online worship opportunities connects with this
institutions of learning. The third transformation is
level.
that the pandemic has made people more aware of the
inequities and the injustices that plague our society Digital Level 4: This is a prophetic re-appraisal of
[3]. digitality in the light of theological ethics,
providing commentary, and critique of the
WHAT IS DIGITAL THEOLOGY? ubiquity of technology. Black Lives Matter and
Theology is the critical study of the nature of God and
other movements that use digital means to bring
His interaction with the mankind. Christian theology about social change reside at this level.
cannot fail to consider the effects of digital
technology on human lives, particularly one’s APPLICATIONS OF DIGITAL THEOLOGY
relationship with God and with others. There are a Digital theology is a rich system of theological
number of terms being used to reflect the nature of concepts inspired by computers. It is a distinctive
theology in the digital age. These terms include religious system that competes with other religions.
“digital theology,” “theology in a digital age,” Increasingly, individuals, churches, and religious
“cybertheology,” and “theology of the Internet.” Pope actors are encountering religion through various
Benedict stated that this form of spreading forms of digital media. The following are typical
information and knowledge is giving birth to a new areas where digital theology is used.
way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented Spiritual Revolution: Digital technology is being
opportunities for establishing relationships and used by theologians when they use their laptops
building fellowship” [4]. or desktops, when they communicate through
Digital theology is an emerging field that is gaining websites, and when they use new tools for biblical
traction with scholars of computer science, theology, interpretation [6]. Digital religion also provides
sociology, and religion. It deals with the reality that the theologians with helpful tools for self
the church has to cope with the emerging pervasive reflection on the use of digital and media culture.
digital culture. This demands new theological Digital religion is leading to a “spiritual
communications and new approaches. Digital revolution” among many youths. More and more
theology should not be confused with digital religion, people are turning towards digital media for
which is concerned with how religion is shaped by spirituality such as chat groups with pastors,
and is present in digital culture and media. Digital online sermons, and interaction through
religion is more focused on the phenomena of religion Facebook.
in digital culture, while digital theology is the critical Spirituality: In the digital age, spirituality is a
study of the nature of God and His interaction with puzzling phenomenon. Our current spirituality is
the world [5]. Digital theology is mainly viewed as a deeply embedded in the socio-economic condition
spin-off to digital humanities and in parallel to digital of our society. Religion circulates through social
religion. media, news, radio, television, film, journalism,
Digital theology can be regarded as having four levels and other entertainment media. To understand
or waves as shown in Figure 2 and explained as religion today, we must understand how religious
follows [3]: ideas and practices are communicated, learned,
represented, and embraced or resisted through
Digital Level 1: This is the use of digital
media. We need to understand the theological
technology to communicate or teach theology as a
implications of the Internet, particularly in
traditional academic subject. The move toward
regards to human relationships with God and with
more online learning is represented by this level,
one another [7].
where our traditional theological subjects are
taught in the digital environment. Digital Religion: Digital religion spaces engage
with people in their congregations. Some use

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
technology to hold Bible studies, worship Some view technology as a terror and give the
services, and a Christian dating tool. The most impression that it is all “of the devil.” The devil does
common types of online religious activities not create and invent technology. He abuses it and
include religious information online, online perverts it into sinful uses. The more we remind
worship in cyberchurches, online worship/rituals ourselves of God’s omnipresence and omniscience,
(such as e-prayer and virtual pilgrimages), online the more we will seek to use technology to please
missionary activities, and religious online God and not provoke His wrath. God is pleased to see
communities. Digital religion deals with the truth instead of falsehood on Facebook. As a Judge,
influence religion and new media have upon one God will one day call us to account how we spend our
another. Religion, though transcendental, has now time online [10].
also become digital. It is changed by this spread
Some critics have regarded digital theology as having
and appropriation of religion through digital
a poor understanding of technology and digital
media [8].
culture. Conversations about religion, technology, and
Political Theology: This complements digital ethics always invoke differences in views across
theology. To state the obvious, power is a central fields of scholarship. As a social movement, digital
notion in the Christian doctrine of God. It is theology is poorly organized and highly fragmented.
equally eminent in the political sphere. Digital It is now challenging to separate online and offline
theology needs to address both the administration spaces and activities; this is also true of digital
of power by market and media and the religion as online and offline religious spaces.
technologies that form the background
CONCLUSION
mechanisms for such functioning of power. Along
Digital religion is concerned with how current
with the expansion of the realm of political
dynamics of digitalization influence, shape, and
theology into the digital, we can discern an
transform the religious practices. It is a burgeoning
expansion of theological loci that inform the
field. It involves reflecting on the digitalization of
digital imaginary. Digital theology is not neutral
society and its implications for Christian faith and
with regard to the objects it studies. As previous
practice in individuals and institutions. As more
versions of political theology, digital theology
religious practices are taking place in online
participates in a politics of ideas [9].
environments, the possibilities for researchers to
BENEFITS discover insights are increased. Today, digital
Religion has been transformed by digital technology. religion as online and offline religious spaces become
Technology should be regarded as a wonderful gift blurred.
from God. We are blessed to live in the digital age
Several contemporary phenomena indicate the
and benefit so much from digital technology in our
interest in digital theology worldwide. If you want to
daily lives. How many lives have been saved by cell
know more on how digital theology is impacting the
phones? How many separated families have been kept
Church, there are a number of courses you can to
together by Zoom, Skype, teleconference, and Face
choose from. A lot of theological seminaries and
Time? How many sermons and messages have been
universities are now offering graduate courses and
spread around the world using social media? [10].
degrees in digital theology. They prepare men and
CHALLENGES women for ministry and mission in a digital age. They
The Internet provides new challenges in method and offer a unique opportunity for theological reflection
in preserving the integrity of ethical practices in on digitalization of society and its implications for the
research. contemporary Christian faith and practice [12]. More
There are still some people who are still trying the information on digital theology can be found in the
“no technology” approach. They claim that the books in [13-20] and the following related journals:
Religion
dangers are too great; the consequences are too awful.
They would not buy it, and they will ban our children Religions
from using it. Therefore, they tend to keep separate Religion Digital
from the world by rejecting technology. This
approach is not realistic and it seems impossible. Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture
They need to understand that digital technology is Review of Religious Research
pervasive and looking ways to avoid is like avoid Journal of the American Academy of Religion.
breathing.

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
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Figure 2 Digital theology viewed as having four
levels or waves [3].

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