Introduction

The aim of this literature review is twofold. On the one hand, it presents a critical appraisal of the existing works on the subject of religion and the Internet, and, on the other hand, it introduces the literature that facilitated the construction and development of the theoretical body of this study, namely, the works which have contributed to the formation of the study's epistemological, theoretical and methodological aspects.

To date, there are no specified examples of academic attempts to examine religion within the context of ICTs. The field is characterized mainly by essayistic efforts rather than systematic research bodies. This, however, is applicable solely to academic studies, for in popular or quasi-academic areas the question of religion and the Internet/cyberspace has been explored in a variety of different works which derive mainly from particular perspectives.

By evaluating the contributions to the fields of cyberculture, Internet research and techno-religious rhetoric found within electronic communication, the review develops a study of how the process of investigating and analysing concepts, including “religion and the Internet”, “online religion”, “cyberreligion”, “cyberspace as a sacred space” and “spiritual life online”, is contributing to cyberspatial religious discourse. This literature review will aid in establishing the theoretical framework and methodological focus needed for an original input into the question of religious manifestations in, and their relationship with, ICTs by presenting selected works that deal with issues related to: theories of technology, epistemology of the Web, and methodology.