Mediatization of religion, networks and collectives: A media ecology, perspective for post millennial Christianity. By Inaku K. Egere

1. Introduction

Every new phase in the evolution of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has witnessed rejuvenation and increase on the debate on the impact of media on the society in general. This debate has always been framed at multiple levels. From earliest advances in communication technology some scholars on one hand have questioned if such advancement has in anyway transformed the society and at another level some have equally questioned if such development is good or bad for the society. Attempts to map the force field of communication media in a more systematic glare in the Western tradition was even articulated in the postulates of Plato and Aristotle on the consequences of writing on the society. Media has revolutionized the world and has become fundamental to the essence of culture and Religion. Therefore the act of gathering, storing, and sharing information is an essential component of our being. Religion like information drives on the wheels of media. It is now more than ever acclaimed by many scholars to be the defining way of life. In the aspect of religion, it is not only the environment and market place where religious practices and activities find a home but it has equally represent religious beliefs; change its contents and symbolic forms; concepts and authority of religious institutions and alter the manner in which people interact with each other in matters of faith and morals.

The article therefore aims at developing a theoretical framework for the understanding of how media functions as an agent of religious change. This framework introduces the concept of mediatization of religion that articulates how religion is increasingly being influenced by the logic of the media especially in areas of institutional regulations, symbolic content and individual practice. With the media ecology perspective, this study further looks not only to language, messages and meaning, but also to technology and context as relevant developments, issues and dares cladding the church in post revelation, post modern, epistemic environment.....
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