Godwired: Religion, Ritual and Virtual Reality

This lively new book explores the way religious practice is changing in the digital age, and investigates the nature of sacred space, technology as a vehicle for sacred texts, who we are when we go online, how religious ritual works online and whether it is possible to gather for worship in online space. Rachel Wagner argues although our engagement with virtual reality should indeed be viewed as a form of religious activity, this "new" religion marks a radical departure from traditional religious practice. Today "s virtual religion is ephemeral, transient, rapid, disposable, hyper-individualized, hybrid, and in an ongoing state of flux.

Rachel Wagner is Associate Professor of Religion at Ithaca College, USA. Her work centers on the study of religion and culture, particularly religion and film, and religion and virtual reality.