THE DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION OF RELIGIOUS IDENTITY: AN OVERVIEW OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH

Abstract

Digitalization has profound effects on all aspects of social life, including the transformation of religious identity. The article explores the process of digital construction of religious identity, which in an era of globalization and technological development goes beyond traditional spaces such as temples and assemblies. Analyzing modern approaches to the formation of religious identity in digital environment, including social networks, virtual communities and online platforms. The focus is on aspects such as hybridization of religious identity, transformation of authority and role of technology. It is considered how the digital environment promotes the preservation of traditional religious practices, their adaptation to modern conditions and the creation of new forms of religiosity. The above studies illustrate the influence of digital technologies on religious leadership, religious communities and ways to express spirituality. Special attention is paid to young people who actively use the digital environment for searching meaning and participating in religious discussions. The study highlights the importance of studying digital religious identity to understand global challenges such as secularization, cultural diversity and religious polarization. The visualization of key thematic areas, such as hybridization, authority and technology is proposed, which allows structuring research in this area. The practical significance of the work lies in its potential application by religious organizations and social researchers for adaptation to the digital environment and interaction with the audience. The work contributes to the study of the impact of digitalization on religiosity and identity, providing a basis for further research.