"Wie steht es aus Sicht der Katholikinnen und Katholiken um ihre katholische Kirche? Betrachten sie diese überhaupt als "ihre" Kirche? Welche Medien nutzen Katholikinnen und Katholiken, um kirchliche und religiöse Inhalte und Botschaften zu erhalten? Diesen und weiteren Fragen geht der "MDG-Trendm
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onitor - Religiöse Kommunikation 2020/21" nach. Die Trendstudie wird seit 1999 zum vierten Mal im Auftrag der MDG erhoben und kann somit Daten aus ca. 20 Jahren vergleichen. Durchgeführt wurde sie vom Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach in Kooperation mit der SINUS Markt- und Sozialforschung. Dem Wandel der Zeit folgend fokussiert der neue Trendmonitor insbesondere die digitalen Angebote und Kommunikation der katholischen Kirche. Darüber hinaus werden auch kirchliche Medien betrachtet, die erst seit wenigen Jahren am Markt sind, wie zum Beispiel Mitgliedermagazine. Eine weitere Neuheit des neuen Trendmonitors ist das letzte Kapitel. Hier finden sich Kommentare von renommierten Medienexperten und Wissenschaftlern: Die Daten der beiden Institute werden durch unterschiedliche Perspektiven wie eine religionssoziologische, kommunikationswissenschaftliche oder pastoraltheologische betrachtet." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Es geht in diesem Band um die Fokussierung, Ethik und Religion als Teil von gesellschaftlichen Phänomenen zu verstehen, die insbesondere hinsichtlich Wirtschaft und Politik zu untersuchen sind. Da sich Gesellschaft heutzutage jedoch nicht mehr ohne Digitalisierung analysieren lässt, tritt für di
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e Bereiche von Religion, Politik und Wirtschaft die Bedeutung von Technik in den Blick. So ergeben sich für den Sammelband vier Schwerpunkte: erstens Analysen, die sich mit ethischer Theoriebildung im Bereich des Digitalen beschäftigen, zweitens ethische Fragen bei der Gestaltung von Wirtschaft, Technik und Medien angesichts der digitalen Möglichkeiten, drittens Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf Kirche und Religion und viertens die Herausforderungen durch die digitale Technisierung für menschliches Selbstverständnis. Dabei fokussiert der Band auf christliche Theologie und Kirche, wobei für zukünftige Untersuchungen eine interreligiöse Perspektive bzw. komparative Vorgehensweise auch von Nöten ist." (Seite 10)
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"[...] we tried to identify the connection between anti-vax conspiracy theories and antisemitism, and the way they spread on social media. Eight media monitors from Get The Trolls Out! partner organisations in Belgium (Flanders), Belgium (Wallonia), France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and the
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United Kingdom (UK) monitored Facebook and Twitter in their countries and identified hashtags, private and public groups, and prominent figures who spread misinformation related to COVID-19 and the vaccines. Through these results, they identified antisemitic narratives. The period monitored is from March 2021-August 2021, however, in some cases the period was extended in order to include recent developments. The results of the monitoring exercise are not surprising. Antisemitic narratives are present within anti-vax conspiracies in the countries where monitoring took place. In some countries antisemitism is more subtle than in others, however, it is still part of conspiracist efforts to spread misinformation and fear. One narrative that all countries have in common is an old antisemitic narrative: a group of powerful Jewish people that want to take over the world. In most countries such as Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), France, Hungary, Germany, and Poland this powerful figure takes the form of philanthropist George Soros or of the Rothschild family, who are generally central figures in antisemitic conspiracy theories. In other cases, those powerful secret figures are not named but implied." (Introduction, page 6)
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"Research has well documented the evidence of the growth of prosperity gospel churches across the globe, but there is a dearth of studies that investigate the interface between culture and exploitative rhetoric among African prosperity gospel ministers. Examining the concept of making sacrificial of
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ferings in the traditional African context, I theorize that culture has significant influence on the exploitative power of prosperity gospel ministers by the following considerations: the African tradition of consulting oracles for solution to spiritual and physical problems, the cultural practice of making sacrificial offerings to the gods in exchange for favor, and the poor socio-economic condition of many prosperity gospel adherents in Africa. This study highlights the use of the rhetoric of spiritual engagement and liberation for audience manipulation, examines the idea of the pure gift, proposes some ethical questions that should govern the prosperity movement, and underscores the need for scholarly engagement." (Abstract)
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"Pope Francis has gained a title as ‘the Pope of Surprises’ for his unprecedented and unconventional papal narratives, personal viewpoints, and equally electrifying mediatised public appearances. One of these surprises was his videotaped appearance on TED. By adopting postsecularism as a concept
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ual framework, this study examines the dominant discursive features in Pope Francis’ TED Talks. Three main types of narrative features were found: emphasis on the postsecular solidarity between the religious and the secular, negotiating religious doctrinal engagement in public spheres, and finally, de-emphasising the papal magisterial authority. While the surface language of the Pope’s TED Talks operates in a postsecular inclusive discursive spirit, its ontological roots are nevertheless cemented in a Catholic epistemology and a faith-motivated claim for moral theology. The similarities between Christian sermons and TED’s communicative norms and practices make the Pope’s new rhetoric possible without excessive attenuation of the Catholic vocabulary." (Abstract)
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"This essay centres on the role of religion in the era of Covid-19. We juxtapose social media and religious practices in a way that challenges the conventional religion of the pulpit to deconstruct the myths and misconceptions around spirituality in the era of Covid-19. We show the transformation of
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worship from physical worship places, particularly churches, to virtual engagements through social media. Through observation, close relations’ accounts, personal experiences and media perspectives, we analyze the politics that surrounded religious observances in the first 7 months of Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya. We make a case that, discoveries made in these seven and other months to come, will most likely influenced the myths and misconceptions about religion and religious practices in the country. From these accounts, we project a future that is likely to reap from the benefits of technology, and especially social media, which has revolutionized exchange of ideas, sermons, prayers and music. We challenge the very notion of pulpit religiosity, and the myths and misconceptions that religion cannot be without physical fellowships." (Abstract)
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"The subject of religion and the behaviour of religious actors in the COVID-19 crisis appear at first glance to constitute either just marginal issues or factors which tend to be negative. On the other hand, there is far less public discussion on the key role played by religious communities as civil
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society partners of governments or the WHO, as agencies providing charitable and pastoral assistance, and as a resource for hope and contingency management so as to successfully cope with the pandemic. This study analyses the ambivalent role of actors in the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of a theory-based empirical analysis, presents the most important developments, learning effects and problem areas yet to be addressed and finally, based on this, draws up policy recommendations for action." (Summary, page 6)
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"Divided into two sections, the chapters included in the first section of the book present case studies from five major religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism and their engagement with digitalization. The second section of the volume explores the moral, ideological but also o
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ntological implications of our increasingly digital lives." (Publisher description)
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"This study opened its first part analyzing the current digital communication culture with the question of how authentic communication is possible, in line with Pope Francis’ particular sense of pastoral care and outlook, for today’s digital environment. It found that the digital communication c
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ulture has the phenomena of duality. On the one hand, people desire comm unication among people, especially in expressing or sharing their religious faith and spiritual beliefs, even though it is de-institutionalized or new formed; on the other hand, nevertheless, since the self in the communication becomes digitally networked, the risk of dehumanization and cognitive bias is still present. Based on Martin Buber’s theory of relationship, an authentic communication culture may be realized by a qualitative leap of relationship from “I-It” to “I-You” in the conversational structure, esteeming both otherness and reciprocity. The authentic relationship of “I-You” should transit to the ultimate and transcendental relationship of “Ieternal You.” At this point, this study paid particular attention to the value of spiritual conversation as a form of a dialogue between two or more people that involves sharing one’s personal experiences of finding God in daily life, and attentively focusing on one’s desires, dreams, and emotions." (General conclusion, page 106)
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"This resource is a guide for how you can use story-sharing in your church programmes to address grief and stress. It includes practical ideas on how to run What’s Your Story? story-sharing exercises to help your church members." (Page 5)