Online Religion?
Religious practice involves the exchange of information.
2
A vital aspect of any human–information transaction is the
3
4
information experience, which is influenced by technology.
How does the religious experience change
when new technologies emerge?
Religious information landscapes
offer a framework for studying
religious information behavior—
and addressing this question.
Adapted from information literacy landscapes, religious information
landscapes are networks through which information regarding a religion is
6
exchanged. Each landscape is afforded by religion-as-preached; believers
6
navigate this landscape idiosyncratically as they practice their lived religions.
5
The Religious Information Landscape
Commentaries
Scripture
Worship
sites
Everyday Life
Information
The Evolving Religious
Information Landscapes
of Zen Buddhism and
1
Roman Catholicism
Religious
Objects
Social
Networks
Religion today is defined “by diverse virtual and physical spaces,
where people are still able to assemble together to do religion.”7
To what extent is it possible, given the religious information
landscapes of Zen and Catholicism, for online practice to occur?
That is, lived religion without an in-person community
or physical place of communal worship.
Zen Buddhism
Roman Catholicism
 Path to individual salvation;8 egalitarian
 Emphasis on practice: seated meditation9
 Came to U.S. in 20th century;10 newcomer
 In U.S., burgeoning; mostly converts11
 Teaching through in-person orality8
 “Special transmission outside scripture”8
 Hierarchical, led by pope;13 authoritarian
 Emphasis on belief: loving, serving God13
 Came to U.S. in 17th century;14 established
 In U.S., ebbing;15 mostly heritage
 Teaching through structured catechism6
 Central: Sacraments, reading Bible6
Online Zen
Online Catholicism?
 Possible based on religious information
landscape; indeed, borne out in reality
 Numerous online sanghas with remote
membership options
 New media offerings for prayer, catechism
and supplementation (not replacement) of
Sacramanents
“Mass is the cornerstone of our faith
life because of what lies at its heart:
the Eucharist.” 16
“Most of my practice has been
done at home … reading books,
blogs, and websites and listening
to podcasts. … [Internet access]
allows me to also interact with any
teacher or other practitioner who
also has an internet presence.” 12
“No, you can’t do it online.” 17
Tim Gorichanaz, PhD student
College of Computing & Informatics
*
Advised by Deborah Turner
Why does Catholicism seem to have
such regard for in-person religious
worship, whereas Zen does not? Is it
related to the authoritarian structure
of the Church? The religion’s basis in
belief? Or is it simply a matter of
established tradition?
With Mass attendance at a fourdecade low,15 could inactive Catholics
be brought back into the fold by the
legitimization of online practice?
Addressing these issues may be pivotal
for the Church in the coming years:
Buddhism is flourishing in America,
while Catholicism is receding.
* Tim is grateful to Deborah for her boundless support,
feedback and advice, all of which have been essential to
this research.
References
1. Gorichanaz, T. (2015, June). Online religion? The evolving religious information landscapes of Zen Buddhism and Roman
Catholicism. Paper presented at the Fifth Annual International Conference on Information & Religion, Kent, OH.
2. Latham, K. F. (2014). Experiencing documents. Journal of Documentation, 70(4), 544–561.
3. Gorichanaz, T. (2015, July). For every document, a person: A human-constructed view of documents. Paper
presented at the 12th Annual International Conference of the Document Academy, Sydney, Australia.
4. Maybee, C. (2007). Understanding our student learners: A phenomenographic study revealing the ways that
undergraduate women at Mills College understand using information. Reference Services Review, 35(3), 452–462.
5. Lloyd, A. (2006). Information literacy landscapes: An emerging picture. Journal of Documentation, 62(5), 570–583.
6. McGuire, M. (2008). Lived religion: Faith and practice in everyday life. Cary, NC: Oxford University Press.
7. Tremlett, P.–F. (2014). Religion in new times. Soundings, 57, 118–125.
8. O’Brien, B. (n.d.). Zen 101. Retrieved from buddhism.about.com
New media in
religious information landscapes
18
19
 App and podcast usage: key smartphone behaviors
 Apple largest maker; iOS most widely used20
 Examined top 10 apps and podcasts in U.S. iTunes Store for
queries zen and catholic
Top Zen Podcasts
Upaya Zen Center 
San Francisco Zen Center 
Living Zen Podcast 
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate Dharma Talks 
Zen Talks - Windhorse Community 
Rochester Zen Center Teisho Zen Talks  Hardcore Zen Podcast 
The Drinking Gourd Podcast 
Katagiri Roshi Talks: Minnesota Zen 
MN Zen Meditation Center Talks 
Top Zen iPhone Apps
 Buddha Quotes
 Pocket Zen
 Meditation Timer
ZenView
 Zen Quotes & Sayings
 Access to Insight: Readings
 Sati
 Buddhism by Pictures
 Buddha Quotes with Music
 Brain Wave Zen Meditation
Top Catholic Podcasts
Catholic Answers Live - Q&A 
SQPN: The Break 
Divine Office - Liturgy of the Hours 
The SaintCast 
EWTN 
Rosary Army Catholic Podcast 
Catholic: Under the Hood 
The Catholic Underground 
iPadre Catholic Podcast 
Catholic Stuff You Should Know 
Top Catholic iPhone Apps
 Laudate
 Catholic Calendar
 iMissal Catholic
 Catholic Mass Times
 Best Daily Prayers & Devotionals
 Catholic Short Prayers Lite
 Catholic Bible Lite
 Confession: A Roman Catholic App
 iRosary
 Catholic New American Bible
9. Dogen. (n.d.). Universally recommended instructions for zazen. Retrieved from stanford.edu
10. Hilgendorf, J. (2012). A new myth for America. Online: The Tribute Series.
11. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2008). U.S. Religious
landscape survey. Retrieved from religions.pewforum.org
12. Deveaux, T. (2010). Update—going it alone: What’s your experience
as an unaffiliated Buddhist? Retrieved from lionsroar.com
13. Richert, S. (n.d.). The seven Sacraments. Retrieved from catholicism.about.com
14. Middleton, R. (2003). Colonial America. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
15. Pew Research Center. (2013). ‘Strong’ Catholic identity at
a four-decade low in U.S. Retrieved from pewforum.org
16. Hudson, D. (2003). 12 claims every Catholic should be
able to answer. Retrieved from catholiceducation.org
17. Tolstoyevsky. (2011). No, you can’t do it online.
[Comment]. Retrieved from answers.yahoo.com
18. Duggan, M. (2013). Additional demographic
analysis. Retrieved from pewinternet.org
19. Edison Research & Triton Digital. (2014). The
infinite dial. Retrieved from edisonresearch.com
20. Leswing, K. (2015). Android and iOS are nearly tied for
U.S. smartphone market share. Retrieved from gigaom.com
 Meditation
 Quotes
 Commentary
 Study
 Prayer
 Sacramental supplement