The Oxford Handbook of Digital Theology
Deep Insights
Oxford: Oxford University Press (2026), xxiv, 472 pp.
Contains index
ISBN 9780192884206 (print); 9780191980114 (online)
"The Oxford Handbook of Digital Theology is the first comprehensive overview of theological reflection on digital technology and culture. Grounded in the history of Christian theology, it attends to the longstanding relationship between technology and human experience. Digital theology addresses the distinctive sociopolitical, cultural, and theological implications of the digital. In recent years the academic field has grown considerably, driven by the rising use of digital technology by Christians and churches, the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence. To address this rapidly changing reality, the Handbook presents theological engagements with the ever-expanding applications of digital technology across all spheres of life.
The Handbook is divided into four parts, written by an interdisciplinary group of scholars from diverse cultures and ecclesial traditions. Part One examines the use of digital technology in theological research and considers digital culture’s influence on theological thought. Part Two presents the dialogue between digital culture and traditional theological topics. Part Three reviews research on the impact of digital technology on the life of the church and Christian ministry. Part Four offers theological reflections on the wider sociopolitical impact of digital technology. The Handbook is the definitive reference for theological reflection on digital technology." (Publisher description)
The Handbook is divided into four parts, written by an interdisciplinary group of scholars from diverse cultures and ecclesial traditions. Part One examines the use of digital technology in theological research and considers digital culture’s influence on theological thought. Part Two presents the dialogue between digital culture and traditional theological topics. Part Three reviews research on the impact of digital technology on the life of the church and Christian ministry. Part Four offers theological reflections on the wider sociopolitical impact of digital technology. The Handbook is the definitive reference for theological reflection on digital technology." (Publisher description)
1 Introduction / Alexander Chow and Jonas Kurlberg, 1
SECTION I. DIGITAL THEOLOGY AND METHODS
2 Dogmatics and Digitality / Matthew John Paul Tan, 17
3 Biblical Hermeneutics / John Dyer, 30
4 Practical Theology and Digitality / Sabrina Müller and Aline Knapp, 44
5 Public Theology and Digitality / Frederike van Oorschot and Florian Höhne, 64
6 Decoloniality and Digitality / Calida Chu, 79
7 Gender / Kate Ott, 91
SECTION II. DIGITAL THEOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS
8 Doctrine of God / Hanna Reichel, 107
9 Creation / Alexander Chow, 123
10 Christology / Stephen R. Holmes, 136
11 Pneumatology / J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, 149
12 Theological Anthropology in Digital Theology / Agana-Nsiire Agana, 161
13 Digital Ecclesiology / Kayko Driedger Hesslein, 174
14 Eschatology / Ximian Xu, 185
SECTION III. THEOLOGY AND DIGITAL MINISTRIES
15 Online Christian Communities / Moisés Sbardelotto and Tim Hutchings, 201
16 Online Liturgies / Kyle K. Schiefelbein-Guerrero, 216
17 Online Preaching / Anna Frida Mannerfelt, 230
18 Online Discipleship and Spiritual Formation / Mary E. Hess, 242
19 Online Pastoral Care / Daniella Zsupan-Jerome, 253
20 Christian Faith and Practice in the Metaverse / Hannah Jeong and Matthew Ryan Robinson, 267
21 Games, Gamification, and Christian Ministry / Frank G. Bosman, 282
22 Robots in Christian Ministry: Horizons of Reflection and Perspectives for the Future / Ilona Nord and Thomas Schlag, 299
23 Mission in Digital Cultures / Steve Taylor, 314
24 Digital Pedagogics in Theological Education / Lai Pak-Wah, 328
SECTION IV. THEOLOGY AND DIGITAL SOCIETIES
25 Ecology and the Digital / Jeremy H. Kidwell, 343
26 Theology, Imagination, and the Arts in Digital Spaces / Miriam Jessie Fisher and Stephen Garner, 358
27 Disability, Theology, and Digitality / Jonas Kurlberg and Nina Kurlberg, 372
28 Transhumanism and Critical Posthumanism / J. Jeanine Thweatt, 386
29 Theologies of Artificial Intelligence / Marius Dorobantu and Erin Green, 399
30 Theologies of Surveillance / Eric Stoddart and Susanne Wigorts Yngvesson, 412
31 Computer Science and Theology / Erkki Sutinen, Anthony-Paul Cooper, and Christopher A. Nunn, 425
Afterword: The Past and Present of Digital Theology / Heidi A. Campbell, 438
SECTION I. DIGITAL THEOLOGY AND METHODS
2 Dogmatics and Digitality / Matthew John Paul Tan, 17
3 Biblical Hermeneutics / John Dyer, 30
4 Practical Theology and Digitality / Sabrina Müller and Aline Knapp, 44
5 Public Theology and Digitality / Frederike van Oorschot and Florian Höhne, 64
6 Decoloniality and Digitality / Calida Chu, 79
7 Gender / Kate Ott, 91
SECTION II. DIGITAL THEOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS
8 Doctrine of God / Hanna Reichel, 107
9 Creation / Alexander Chow, 123
10 Christology / Stephen R. Holmes, 136
11 Pneumatology / J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, 149
12 Theological Anthropology in Digital Theology / Agana-Nsiire Agana, 161
13 Digital Ecclesiology / Kayko Driedger Hesslein, 174
14 Eschatology / Ximian Xu, 185
SECTION III. THEOLOGY AND DIGITAL MINISTRIES
15 Online Christian Communities / Moisés Sbardelotto and Tim Hutchings, 201
16 Online Liturgies / Kyle K. Schiefelbein-Guerrero, 216
17 Online Preaching / Anna Frida Mannerfelt, 230
18 Online Discipleship and Spiritual Formation / Mary E. Hess, 242
19 Online Pastoral Care / Daniella Zsupan-Jerome, 253
20 Christian Faith and Practice in the Metaverse / Hannah Jeong and Matthew Ryan Robinson, 267
21 Games, Gamification, and Christian Ministry / Frank G. Bosman, 282
22 Robots in Christian Ministry: Horizons of Reflection and Perspectives for the Future / Ilona Nord and Thomas Schlag, 299
23 Mission in Digital Cultures / Steve Taylor, 314
24 Digital Pedagogics in Theological Education / Lai Pak-Wah, 328
SECTION IV. THEOLOGY AND DIGITAL SOCIETIES
25 Ecology and the Digital / Jeremy H. Kidwell, 343
26 Theology, Imagination, and the Arts in Digital Spaces / Miriam Jessie Fisher and Stephen Garner, 358
27 Disability, Theology, and Digitality / Jonas Kurlberg and Nina Kurlberg, 372
28 Transhumanism and Critical Posthumanism / J. Jeanine Thweatt, 386
29 Theologies of Artificial Intelligence / Marius Dorobantu and Erin Green, 399
30 Theologies of Surveillance / Eric Stoddart and Susanne Wigorts Yngvesson, 412
31 Computer Science and Theology / Erkki Sutinen, Anthony-Paul Cooper, and Christopher A. Nunn, 425
Afterword: The Past and Present of Digital Theology / Heidi A. Campbell, 438
