This week on Spark, we look at the intersection of digital culture and religion and what it means for how we understand the sacred. Nora’s guest is Rachel Wagner, assistant professor of philosophy and religion at Ithaca College in New York.
It’s an interesting conversation touching on some of the latest websites, games and tools Rachel has discovered through her research into spirituality and virtual spaces. Is a clickable prayer wheel that lives on your computer as valid as a physical 3D one that you turn with your hand? If you download the Qur’an onto your iPod, can you still keep your music there too, or should the device be reserved for religious use? And Nora and Rachel discuss a new website that will “say your prayers” for a pre-paid fee, in the event you don’t have time, or you forget.
Rachel is working on a book called God Wired, which will be out later this year.
A shorter version of this interview will air on the April 15th and 18th episode of Spark, but you can hear the full, uncut interview below, or download the MP3.
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I recently went to a Quran-recitation party. It was interesting to note that some people were reciting out of their iPhones rather than from book-copies.
Technology has been significant for me in learning about my faith.
In fact I am doing a project that would revolutionize how people progress themselves in faith/good deeds, God-Willing
It really matters that how you recite holy quran , to recite it you should be clean the medium should be clean so you can read it
Perhaps no longer of interest, but hen I came across this iPod/phone app, I instantly remembered this show.
iKneel promotes itself as "Show some christian value with this style-icon… this is true faith by the push of a button!"
Well, it sure did make me pause.