Contextualising Digitally Mediated Alternative Spiritualities: Texts and Approaches | Danielle Kirby

Summary: The late modern digitised world has seen a significant increase in new spiritualities within the context of both traditional and alternative spheres of religious engagement. With the heightened visibility afforded by the Internet, contemporary alternative narrative religions in particular have entered both into popular consciousness and scholarly discussions, as exemplified by the cases of Jediism and various Paganisms. Notwithstanding some notable exceptions, however, beliefs of this nature are often assumed to function in similar fashions, with believers approaching texts as some type of popular revelation. It will rather be argued here that there are quite distinct approaches to texts that can be seen across a number of these groups, and that these differences can significantly clarify the specific beliefs and intentions of such spiritualities. This paper will explore the implications of the differing roles of fictional narrative in the creation and development of alternative spiritualities. In doing so, it is suggested that exploring distinctions between the types of relationships with the text allows for a more nuanced reading of particular beliefs.