Approaching Religious Authority Through the Rise of New Leadership Roles Online

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores the relationship and understanding of religious authority as it is conceived and enacted by traditional and new forms of religious leadership emerging in the digital age. The term religious digital creatives is used to describe this new class of religious authorities, which have gained public influence on online platforms by their strategic use of digital media. Religious digital creatives rise to position of influence not through traditional forms of leadership selection, training or religious expertise, but through their digital and communication skill sets. Their rise and presence challenges to traditional views of who, as well as what structures, hold authority in contemporary religious communities and organization. Overall, this chapter presents an in-depth understanding of how religious authority roles approached within media studies and digital religion studies, and suggests the importance of considering the new ways religious authority is enacted by actors in digital media environments.