Problem: As technology becomes an integral part of our lives, it increasingly becomes
involved in every aspect of our lives, including our spiritual beliefs and practices. Although
technology can provide religious believers with more access to religious texts and tools than ever before, it can also become a spiritual challenge. For example, social media has provided an outlet and platform to share
religious beliefs and lifestyles while also becoming a platform to spread misinformation, bias, and negativity. Our team is exploring the intricate relationship between technology and religion, as well
as how people are integrating new technologies into their everyday religious practices. We aim to optimize positive, righteous use of technology while minimizing the harmful effects.
Current Research Efforts:
- Publishing findings on understanding the aspirational goals of a religious community to inform value-sensitive design.
- Gathering & organizing data on the challenges newly independent adults face when incorporating technology into their religious practices.
- Studying how individual AI use affects one's religious efforts.