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This interdisciplinary monograph explores the evolving relationship between digital tools and religious life, focusing on how innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and learning management systems (LMS) are reshaping theological education, worship, and communal identity. Drawing from theology, pedagogy, and technology studies, the book offers a rich analysis of how digital platforms are redefining religious engagement-within classrooms, sanctuaries, and online communities. Case studies illuminate both the practical benefits and the ethical tensions posed by these tools, while broader reflections trace how digital cultures are influencing the transmission of sacred knowledge and the construction of religious identity. With particular attention to the rise of digital natives and the shift toward virtual worship accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study considers how tradition and innovation intersect in the digital sphere. From immersive learning environments to social media outreach, it asks how technology can be responsibly harnessed to enhance religious life without compromising its spiritual core. This timely volume is essential reading for scholars of theology, religious education, digital humanities, and anyone interested in the future of faith in an interconnected world.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Introduction to Digital Theology and Educational Technology.- Chapter 2. Immersive Game-Based Learning in Religious Education.- Chapter 3. Artificial Intelligence in Theological Education Pedagogy, Ethics, and Theology.- Chapter 4. Augmented Reality Transforming Theological Learning and Engagement.- Chapter 5. Learning Management Systems in Theological Education A Case Study.- Chapter 6. Conclusion The Future of Digital Theology in Religious Education.
About the author
Dr. Christos Papakostas is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Informatics and Computer Engineering at the University of West Attica, where he also earned his Ph.D. He holds a B.A. in Social Theology and Religious Studies from the Faculty of Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as a Dipl.Eng. and an M.Sc. degree from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace. His current research interests are in the areas of virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, eLearning as well as humanistic and social informatics. Previous book: Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality - The Case of Spatial Intelligence Enhancement, ISBN 978-3-031-2004-4 Book series: Cognitive Technologies (COGTECH), Springer Nature.
Summary
This interdisciplinary monograph explores the evolving relationship between digital tools and religious life, focusing on how innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and learning management systems (LMS) are reshaping theological education, worship, and communal identity. Drawing from theology, pedagogy, and technology studies, the book offers a rich analysis of how digital platforms are redefining religious engagement—within classrooms, sanctuaries, and online communities. Case studies illuminate both the practical benefits and the ethical tensions posed by these tools, while broader reflections trace how digital cultures are influencing the transmission of sacred knowledge and the construction of religious identity. With particular attention to the rise of digital natives and the shift toward virtual worship accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study considers how tradition and innovation intersect in the digital sphere. From immersive learning environments to social media outreach, it asks how technology can be responsibly harnessed to enhance religious life without compromising its spiritual core. This timely volume is essential reading for scholars of theology, religious education, digital humanities, and anyone interested in the future of faith in an interconnected world.
