Media

Abstract

In this chapter we first explore the three primary domains into which scholars have divided the study of media and religion: producers of media content, media content itself, and media effects. We then examine ways in which scholars have attempted to move beyond the instrumentalist approach to media, especially by taking a more cultural approach to the study of media. This paradigm shift in media studies coincided with the shift toward a new paradigm for the sociological study of religion advocated by Warner (1993). We next explore the emerging and dynamic world of digital media, which has profoundly affected both the study and practice of religion. We conclude with thoughts on directions for future research at the intersection of religion and media.