Provides a contemporary view of the intertwined relationship of communication and religion
The Handbook of Religion and Communication presents a detailed investigation of the complex interaction between media and religion, offering diverse perspectives on how both traditional and new media sources continue to impact religious belief and practice across multiple faiths around the globe. Contributions from leading international scholars address key themes such as the changing role of religious authority in the digital age, the role of media in cultural shifts away from religious institutions, and the ways modern technologies have transformed how religion is communicated and portrayed.
Divided into five parts, the Handbook opens with a state-of-the-art overview of the subject’s intellectual landscape, introducing the historical background, theoretical foundations, and major academic approaches to communication, media, and religion. Subsequent sections focus on institutional and functional perspectives, theological and cultural approaches, and new approaches in digital technologies. The essays provide insight into a wide range of topics, including religious use of media, religious identity, audience gratification, religious broadcasting, religious content in entertainment, films and religion, news reporting about religion, race and gender, the sex-religion matrix, religious crisis communication, public relations and advertising, televangelism, pastoral ministry, death and the media, online religion, future directions in religious communication, and more.
Explores the increasing role of media in creating religious identity and communicating religious experience
Discusses the development and evolution of the communication practices of various religious bodies
Covers all major media sources including radio, television, film, press, digital online content, and social media platforms
Presents key empirical research, real-world case studies, and illustrative examples throughout
Encompasses a variety of perspectives, including individual and institutional actors, academic and theoretical areas, and different forms of communication media
Explores media and religion in Judeo-Christian traditions, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, religions of Africa, Atheism, and others
The Handbook of Religion and Communication is an essential resource for scholars, academic researchers, practical theologians, seminarians, mass communication researchers, and undergraduate and graduate students taking courses on media and religion.
Contributors ix
Introduction 1
Part I Theoretical Background 5
1 Academic Approaches to Communication, Media, and Religion 7
Lynn Schofield Clark and Heidi Ippolito
2 Communication, Media, and Religion Research: Theoretical Roots 23
Stephen Garner
3 Theology and Communication 39
Paul A. Soukup S.J.
4 Religious Traditions and Ethics in Communication 55
Robert S. Fortner
Part II Theological Perspectives 69
5 Christianity and the Mass Media 71
Mary Catherine Kennedy Copyrighted Material
6 Communication in Judaism and Islam 83
Yoel Cohen and Hadi Enayat
7 Religious Communication in Asia 99
Anthony Le Duc and Keval J. Kumar
8 African Religions and Communication 117
Joseph Muyangata and Mark Fackler
9 Atheism and the Media 131
Teemu Taira
Part III Religions as Actors 145
10 Religious Broadcasting: An Overview, 2000–2021 147
Jim McDonnell
11 Religious Personalities and Televangelism 165
Paul A. Soukup S.J.
12 Public Relations and Advertising 181
Carlo Nardella
13 “Survival and Salvation”: Religious Situational Crisis Communication Strategies 197
Gregory P. Perreault, Mildred. F. Perreault, and Monica Crawford
14 Web Presence 213
Amanda Sturgill
Part IV Individual Religious Communication 229
15 Pastoral Ministry and Communication 231
Daniella Zsupan-Jerome
16 Piety, Religious Identity, and the Media 241
Damian Guzek and Piotr S. Bobkowski
17 Youth, Education, and Media 257
Mary E. Hess
Part V Media Institutions 271
18 Mediatization 273
Knut Lundby
19 Reporting Religion News 287
Yoel Cohen
20 Entertainment 301
Allan Novaes
21 Religion and Film 315
Joel Mayward
22 Documentary Film and Religious Faith in Historical Perspective 337
John P. Ferré
Part VI Functional Perspectives 351
23 The Role of Media in Creating Communities of Religious Belief and Identity 353
Myna German
24 Religion and Meaning 365
Johannes Ehrat
25 Religious Rituals, Pilgrimages, Festivals, and Media: Exploring the Interface 383
Gnana Patrick
26 Death, Spirituality, and Digital Afterlife 399
Johanna Sumiala
Part VII Cultural Perspectives 415
27 Incipient Diversity: Gender and Race in Media and Religion Research 417
Chiung Hwang Chen
28 Material Religion 433
Felicia Katz-Harris
29 The Sex–Religion Matrix 453
Ruth Tsuria and Jason Bartashius
30 Authority, Religion, and Media 469
Míriam Díez Bosch and Alba Sabaté Gauxachs
31 Religion and Development Communication 487
Robert A. White
Part VIII Approaches in New Technologies 503
32 Internet, Mobile Technology, and Religion 505
Miriam Díez Bosch and Josep Lluís Micó
33 Online Religion 521
Rohit Chopra
Index 537
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Weight:454.00