DIGITALIZATION OF RELIGION: ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY THEOLOGICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS TRENDS

The Internet and digital technologies are becoming a kind of ‘religion’ for more and more users. It may become a kind of ‘idol’ to be honoured and worshipped. Sometimes there are concerns that the global network that connects all human knowledge through hyperlinks could displace traditional practices of faith-based communication. The author notes that the main goal of the activities of modern priests-bloggers is "saving human souls", as well as helping everyone to accept the Saviour. It is digital technologies that have made it possible to overcome social and religious distancing in the process of physical distancing, which have proven to be especially in demand during the pandemic. The purpose of the article is to explore the attitudes of some scholars and clergy towards the digitalisation of religion. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that it outlines the path to a dialogue between philosophical and religious studies and theological approaches, reflecting the position of both representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the ROC) and philosophical and religious studies thought. The author notes the dual idea of the digitalization of religion, acting as ‘religion in digital form’ and ‘digits in religion’, as well as the ambiguity of the attitude to the process of digitalization in religion both on the part of representatives of the ROC and on the part of modern secular researchers.