Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries

Julius Murumba; Erick Odhiambo Omuya

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

| Peer-Reviewed

Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries

Julius Murumba, Erick Odhiambo Omuya

Published in Science Journal of Education (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Received: 8 March 2017 Accepted: 12 April 2017 Published: 25 May 2017

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Information Technology has penetrated nearly all aspects of our daily lives such that relationships associated with individuals and organizations are digitally enabled and mediated. Advances in IT have led to changes in the way religious worship has traditionally been done, ushering in a new age of worship that is augmented by or anchored on a digital platform. The paper aimed at investigating societal implications of IT use in religion and to better understand the ways in which IT affects modernization of religion in developing countries. The objectives of the paper were to establish the types of IT applications being used in religion, the co-existence of IT and religious tradition and how use of IT affects the future of religion. The study was conducted through a desk search. The paper concludes that religion and technology have had some form of inter dependence on one another, and therefore for modernization of religion IT will increasingly play an important role. Religion must adopt ways to utilize IT positively while shunning negative aspects that IT can be used for in religion such as propagation of fundamentalism and extremism through IT.

Published in	Science Journal of Education (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
Page(s)	144-149
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Information Technology, Religion, Co-Existence

References

[1]	Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2016). merriam-webster.com. Retrieved December 10, 2016, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/information%20technology
[2]	Webopedia. (2016). Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/IT.html
[3]	Rehman, B., Sultan, A., & Zeeshan, M. (2015). Role Of Information Communication Technology In Provoking Religious Extremism. The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences, 1 (5), 145-148.
[4]	Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. (2016). Retrieved November 7, 2016, from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/technology-and-religion
[5]	Ferguson, T. (2004). Retrieved October 30, 2016, from TechNewsWorld: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/33078.html
[6]	Verschoor-Kirss, A. (2012). The Dynamic Interplay of Religion and Technology in Online Social Networks. Journal of Religion & Society, 14.
[7]	Sims, D. B. (2005). The Effect of Technology on Christianity: Blessing or Curse? Unpublished.
[8]	Uyehara, K. (2006). Religion and Technology. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from Swarthmore College Environmental Studies: http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2007/kuyehar1/Religion_essay.html
[9]	Cheng, C. M., Liu, Y. Y, & Ho, R. L. (2006). The Impact of Internet Technology on Spiritual Health of College Students. Proceedings of the 5th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Computer Science (pp. 33-38). Hangzhou, China: International Conference on Applied Computer Science.
[10]	Agazzi, E. (2011). Science and Religion. History And Philosophy Of Science And Technology, 1, 3-4.
[11]	Ihejirika, W. C. (2008). In-Line Religion: Innovative Pastoral Applications Of The New Information And Communication Technologies (Nicts) By The Catholic Church In Nigeria. Politics And Religion, 79-98.
[12]	Manala, M. J. (2014). The impact of Christianity on sub-Saharan Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: University of South Africa.
[13]	Ossai-Ugbah, N. B. (2011). The use of information and communication technologies in Nigerian Baptist churches. International Journal of Science and Technology Education Research, 2 (3), 49 - 57.
[14]	Wyche, S. P., Hayes, G. R., Harvel, L. D., & Grinter, R. E. (2011). Technology in Spiritual Formation: An Exploratory Study of Computer Mediated Religious Communications. Computer Supported Cooperative Work.
[15]	Pautler A (2010). Why We Use Technology. http://newcitycatholicchurch.com/blog
[16]	Tanasyuk, P., & Avgerou, C. (2009). ICT and religious tradition: the case of Mount Athos. IFIP WG9.4 Conference. Dubai: London School of Economics Research Online.
[17]	Armstrong, N. S., Spiegel, A., & Wimmer, J. (2001). Information technology in congregations. Christian century, 7-14.
[18]	Gorichanaz, T. (2014). Religion and information technology. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from scratchtap: http://scratchtap.com/religion-and-information-technology/
[19]	Starichenkov, A. V. (1996). Using information technologies in religious education. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from Round Table "Education for change and diaconia": http://www.rondtb.msk.ru/info/en/technologies_en.htm
[20]	Soukup, P. A., Buckley, F. J., & Robinson, D. C. (2001). The Influence Of Information Technologies On Theology. Theological Studies.
[21]	Reychler, L. (1997). RELIGION AND CONFLICT. International Journal of Peace Studies, 2 (1).
[22]	Holmlund, S. (2008). How is technology changing spirituality? Retrieved November 8, 2016, from http://www.patheos.com: http://www.patheos.com/Topics/How-Is-Technology-Changing-Spirituality
[23]	Krotoski, A. (2011). What effect has the internet had on religion?. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/apr/17/untangling-web-aleks-krotoski-religion
[24]	Yates, P. (2014). Technology’s effect on religion. Retrieved November 8, 2016, from DevOps.com: https://devops.com/technology-killing-religion-just-know/
[25]	Time Magazine 1952 “Bishop Fulton Sheen: The First ‘Televangelist.’” Time Magazine (April 14). Available online at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,857161,00.html.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Julius Murumba, Erick Odhiambo Omuya. (2017). Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries. Science Journal of Education, 5(4), 144-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Julius Murumba; Erick Odhiambo Omuya. Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries. Sci. J. Educ. 2017, 5(4), 144-149. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Julius Murumba, Erick Odhiambo Omuya. Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries. Sci J Educ. 2017;5(4):144-149. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13,
  author = {Julius Murumba and Erick Odhiambo Omuya},
  title = {Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries},
  journal = {Science Journal of Education},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {144-149},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjedu.20170504.13},
  abstract = {Information Technology has penetrated nearly all aspects of our daily lives such that relationships associated with individuals and organizations are digitally enabled and mediated. Advances in IT have led to changes in the way religious worship has traditionally been done, ushering in a new age of worship that is augmented by or anchored on a digital platform. The paper aimed at investigating societal implications of IT use in religion and to better understand the ways in which IT affects modernization of religion in developing countries. The objectives of the paper were to establish the types of IT applications being used in religion, the co-existence of IT and religious tradition and how use of IT affects the future of religion. The study was conducted through a desk search. The paper concludes that religion and technology have had some form of inter dependence on one another, and therefore for modernization of religion IT will increasingly play an important role. Religion must adopt ways to utilize IT positively while shunning negative aspects that IT can be used for in religion such as propagation of fundamentalism and extremism through IT.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries
AU  - Julius Murumba
AU  - Erick Odhiambo Omuya
Y1  - 2017/05/25
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
T2  - Science Journal of Education
JF  - Science Journal of Education
JO  - Science Journal of Education
SP  - 144
EP  - 149
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-0897
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
AB  - Information Technology has penetrated nearly all aspects of our daily lives such that relationships associated with individuals and organizations are digitally enabled and mediated. Advances in IT have led to changes in the way religious worship has traditionally been done, ushering in a new age of worship that is augmented by or anchored on a digital platform. The paper aimed at investigating societal implications of IT use in religion and to better understand the ways in which IT affects modernization of religion in developing countries. The objectives of the paper were to establish the types of IT applications being used in religion, the co-existence of IT and religious tradition and how use of IT affects the future of religion. The study was conducted through a desk search. The paper concludes that religion and technology have had some form of inter dependence on one another, and therefore for modernization of religion IT will increasingly play an important role. Religion must adopt ways to utilize IT positively while shunning negative aspects that IT can be used for in religion such as propagation of fundamentalism and extremism through IT.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Julius Murumba

Department of Management Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Erick Odhiambo Omuya

Department of Computing and IT, Machakos University, Machakos, Kenya

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Julius Murumba, Erick Odhiambo Omuya. (2017). Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries. Science Journal of Education, 5(4), 144-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Julius Murumba; Erick Odhiambo Omuya. Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries. Sci. J. Educ. 2017, 5(4), 144-149. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Julius Murumba, Erick Odhiambo Omuya. Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries. Sci J Educ. 2017;5(4):144-149. doi: 10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13,
  author = {Julius Murumba and Erick Odhiambo Omuya},
  title = {Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries},
  journal = {Science Journal of Education},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {144-149},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjedu.20170504.13},
  abstract = {Information Technology has penetrated nearly all aspects of our daily lives such that relationships associated with individuals and organizations are digitally enabled and mediated. Advances in IT have led to changes in the way religious worship has traditionally been done, ushering in a new age of worship that is augmented by or anchored on a digital platform. The paper aimed at investigating societal implications of IT use in religion and to better understand the ways in which IT affects modernization of religion in developing countries. The objectives of the paper were to establish the types of IT applications being used in religion, the co-existence of IT and religious tradition and how use of IT affects the future of religion. The study was conducted through a desk search. The paper concludes that religion and technology have had some form of inter dependence on one another, and therefore for modernization of religion IT will increasingly play an important role. Religion must adopt ways to utilize IT positively while shunning negative aspects that IT can be used for in religion such as propagation of fundamentalism and extremism through IT.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Societal Implications of IT in Religion for Developing Countries
AU  - Julius Murumba
AU  - Erick Odhiambo Omuya
Y1  - 2017/05/25
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
T2  - Science Journal of Education
JF  - Science Journal of Education
JO  - Science Journal of Education
SP  - 144
EP  - 149
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-0897
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjedu.20170504.13
AB  - Information Technology has penetrated nearly all aspects of our daily lives such that relationships associated with individuals and organizations are digitally enabled and mediated. Advances in IT have led to changes in the way religious worship has traditionally been done, ushering in a new age of worship that is augmented by or anchored on a digital platform. The paper aimed at investigating societal implications of IT use in religion and to better understand the ways in which IT affects modernization of religion in developing countries. The objectives of the paper were to establish the types of IT applications being used in religion, the co-existence of IT and religious tradition and how use of IT affects the future of religion. The study was conducted through a desk search. The paper concludes that religion and technology have had some form of inter dependence on one another, and therefore for modernization of religion IT will increasingly play an important role. Religion must adopt ways to utilize IT positively while shunning negative aspects that IT can be used for in religion such as propagation of fundamentalism and extremism through IT.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download