Handbook of Religion and Society

Abstract

In this chapter we fi rst 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 advo- cated by Warner (1993). We next explore the emerging and dynamic world of digital media, which has profoundly affected both the study and prac- tice of religion. We conclude with thoughts on directions for future research at the intersection of religion and media. To