Digital Saints: How 21st century broadcasting enables the spiritual experience of hybrid new monastic communities of faith

Abstract

This study sought to assess the function of a hybrid New Monastic community utilising new media 21st-century broadcasting, focusing on the members' transition from an offline group to a hybrid Community of Practice. The aim of this study was twofold. The first; to examine the evolution and determine the effect of the digital positioning of the community through audience measurement, engagement, and media production.
The second; to determine the participants' lived religious experience and their conscious process and holistic progress within the community using a phenomenological understanding of the experience and examining the influence of the livestreams on their religious development and cult culture regarding their digital presence.
In this study I report on the effectiveness of Pioneer Ministry in this hybrid space as part of the Church of England's Fresh Expressions of Church in response to the decline in church attendance, according to research, particularly among 20- to 40-year-old digital natives and immigrants.
This research determines the importance of digital technologies and how they facilitate the religious experience of these hybrid New Monastic communities of faith from a media sociological perspective focusing on the context of communication. It can be used as evidence that a hybridised community, where both physical and digital connections are valued equally, are effective in encouraging the religious development of faith communities. This gives thorough information of social media religious communities to expand the knowledge base of religious leaders who aspire to build and nurture new faith communities aimed at digital natives. The findings may teach educators about the new religious leaders and contribute to advancing digital religious studies.

Date of Award	18 Mar 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Coventry University
Supervisor	Fred Mudhai (Supervisor), Bianca Wright (Supervisor) & Adrian Chatfield (Supervisor)