The Spread of Religion in the Digital Age：with Virtual Buddhist Temple (Blog) as an Example

• Main Authors: HSIAO CHUN-YUAN, 蕭竣元
• Other Authors: Huang Yunshi
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/58329213646060014511

碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 宗教學系碩士班 === 96 === Due to the result of globalization in modern society, life becomes more multi-dimensional benefiting from the advancement of economics and technology. Religions and other social factors, thus, having no choice but facing complication and diversity of modern society. Internet was originally an outcome which is based on the need of the Western military. As time goes by, Internet technology advances inconceivably; uncountable Internet information pervades in human’s life, and modern society gradually evolves into the digital age. Buddhist practice requires both “knowing” and “doing”. Religions perceive new perspectives of preaching and practicing via Internet. The popularity of Internet encourages digitalization of Buddhist classics and affiliated information. Therefore, modern believers may acquire much information via Internet if interested. Each religion has new religious events, rituals and participations of practice as a result of information technology. Different problems occurred in the age of information seem like unprecedented. However, Buddhism, interpreting universe with emptiness, has the obligation to offer the experience of Buddhist teaching through Internet. With Internet all the more popular, there’s no restriction of time and space of religious events. Through the broad-band communication, religious preaching announces its participation with the digital age. This thesis aims at the development of Internet technology and communication, the dissemination of digitalization, the relation between human, users, system operator and so on. The main concern is to examine the relation between Internet technology and the spread of Buddhism by different perceptivities. Technology derives from humanity. The process of technological development reflects human’s need; meanwhile, the internet communication mode also reveals what human need. The internet communication, mostly through multimedia, allows users to control what they prefer easier then ever. Users are willing to present theirs own will to try to control media and express their viewpoints. New computer-based communication technology gradually becomes based on user’s requirement, enormously changing the previous one-dimensional mass media communication. For examples, it allows everyone to establish personal website, posting articles and personal opinions through e-paper subscription. Therefore, this thesis will apply the concept of Web 2.0 to construct a virtual temple on a Buddhist blog, firstly hosting the site and achieve a well-done research of its future.