In an era of increasing digital connectivity, a new study suggests that digital religion among millennials in the U.S. and Canada is not replacing traditional worship but instead enriching it. The research, conducted by Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, a sociology professor at the University of Waterloo, examines the role of digital platforms in the spiritual lives of young adults and explores whether these technologies are driving a “spiritual revolution.”
With the rise of online sermons, religious social media content, and virtual chat groups with faith leaders, religious communities have found digital avenues to engage younger generations. However, Wilkins-Laflamme’s study reveals that while digital religion enhances the experience of those already involved in organized religion, it is not necessarily drawing new participants into faith-based practices.
“More people are turning to digital mediums for spirituality, but digital religion primarily complements, rather than substitutes, in-person religious participation,” Wilkins-Laflamme said. The study found that a significant minority of millennials engage with digital religion, using it to deepen their connection to faith, but it remains absent for the majority of this demographic.
The research also highlights differences in digital religious engagement between the U.S. and Canada, with the practice being more prevalent in the more religious American context compared to the more secular Canadian environment. According to Wilkins-Laflamme, digital religion often correlates with traditional in-person religious activities, especially in settings where religion already plays a central role in society.
The findings, published in the Review of Religious Research, underscore the nuanced relationship between technology and spirituality. While digital platforms offer new spaces for religious expression, they largely serve to support rather than replace traditional religious practices among millennials.
Source: Phys.org
