About REL 1670 A
Religious groups have a reputation for being resistant to technology, but many religious groups and actors have been innovators in the use of technology. This course examines the relationship of religion and technology through topics like spirit photography and biblical films, by asking how technologies have shaped religious practice and examining how religious groups have experimented with communication technologies.
Notes
Open to degree and PACE students System waitlisting enabled for this section
Section Description
Religious communities have often been cast as technological laggards, whether willfully ignorant or generally backwards. Such narratives, fueled by stories about religious leaders condemning cultural trends, conceal the ways religious actors have in long been innovating on media and technologies. Covering topics like spirit photography, biblical films, and digital religions, this course situates the relationship between religion and AI within the broader histories of religions and media technologies, through the following questions: how have media technologies shaped religious practice, identity, and belonging? What were some religious critiques of media technologies particularly around questions of access, constraints, and consumption? And how have religious groups experimented with technologies to reimagine their use, message, and audience? These moments of encounter reveal how religious communities have not only adopted media technologies for their own purposes, but have driven much of what makes these tools innovative and modern.
Section Expectation
Students are expected to attend regularly. Class sessions expound on the themes from the readings by drawing connections to contemporary examples, provide some historical context for the figures and events in the texts, and prepare students for any upcoming class deliverables.
Evaluation
It will be based on class participation; quality of weekly discussion posts; and four short in-person quizzes.
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.
| Last Day to Add | |
|---|---|
| Last Day to Drop | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 50% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 25% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw |
Resources
Remind Me Form
Remind yourself about REL 1670 A.
We'll send you a reminder before Spring 2027 registration begins.