10.17192/mjr.2018.20.7699
Krüger, Oliver
Oliver
Krüger
The ‘Logic’ of Mediatization Theory in Religion:
A critical consideration of a new paradigm
Marburg Journal of Religion : Vol 20 No 1 (2018)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
2018
mediatization mediation religion internet
Institute for Comparative Cultural Research - Study of Religions and Anthropology
2018-10-09
2018-10-08
en
JournalArticle
https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/2018/233/7699
urn:nbn:de:hebis:04-ep0004-2018-233-76990
https://doi.org/10.17192/mjr.2018.20.1
https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ep/0004/2018/233/7699/7699.png
1612-2941
application/pdf
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The concept of mediatization was introduced to research on religion a decade ago by several scholars of communication: Hepp, Hjarvard and Sá Martino. The approach is controversial and has been debated in religious studies and beyond. This article critically analyses the core elements of mediatization theory in religion. These elements are the dating and measurement of mediatization, the secularization and the concept of ‘banal religion,’ the understanding of ‘religion’ and of ‘media,’ and the process of deterritorialization. This analysis questions the empirical evidence for and the theoretical consistency of the mediatization approach. Finally, some alternative research perspectives are presented.