CommArts Professor Launches Book on Digital Religion  

Ruth Tsuria, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication in the College of Communication and the Arts, recently launched her co-edited book, Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in Digital Media, during a global celebration on Friday, October 22. More than 30 participants attended the virtual book launch, tuning in from countries including the United States, New Zealand, Israel and the United Kingdom, among others.

Co-edited with Heidi Campbell, Ph.D., professor of media studies at Texas A&M University, Digital Religion explores the intersection of religion and digital media by discussing its history, trends, future developments, theories and more. It is the second edition of Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in New Media Worlds, which was originally published in 2013.

That eight-year gap between editions allowed Tsuria and Campbell to examine how the field changed and redefined itself over the last few years, looking at the way religious communities have evolved in the digital media space.

"In the first edition, there was a strong focus on explaining why we need to study religion in online contexts," shared Tsuria during the online event. "We know religion is here and online, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, so that explanation is no longer as important. The second edition is more of the field's coming of age story: we ask the same questions as the first book, but from a more mature position."

Throughout the afternoon, Tsuria and Campbell interacted with attendees, including several contributing authors who emphasized the book as a foundational tool to learn about digital religion. "It provides a complete overview of the field for scholars on all levels," said one contributor. 

Photo courtesy of Ruth Tsuria, Ph.D.

Tsuria also hosted an interactive, multiple-choice quiz game on the book, its editors and the field overall. Fun fact: the word 'religion' appears 1,139 times in the text!

Understandably, religion and new media have become increasingly intertwined over the past few years with different formats including video games, social media and virtual reality playing distinct roles in shaping online religious communities. Both Tsuria and Campell recognized this dynamic, noting the text’s timeliness following the pandemic and an increased interest in the area.

In the coming months, the Institute for Communication and Religion within the College of Communication and the Arts plans to hold a special event to further explore the text's concepts during the Spring 2022 semester. For more information, please contact Jon Radwan. 

About the College of Communication and the Arts
Seton Hall University's College of Communication and the Arts offers diverse, flexible undergraduate programs anchored in the humanities, featuring cutting-edge technology and innovative curricula, and provides opportunities for meaningful collaboration across disciplines. Students can explore emerging technologies as well as learn from industry professionals about the latest trends in the ongoing digital revolution that is affecting communication and arts' industries. For more information about the College's Amanda Carcione.

The College currently offers Ryan Hudes.

Categories: Arts and Culture