The Religious Facebook Experience: Uses and Gratifications of Faith-Based Content

Abstract

This study explores why Christians ( N = 335) use Facebook for religious purposes and the needs engaging with religious content on Facebook gratifies. Individuals who access faith-based content on Facebook were recruited to participate in an online survey through a series of Facebook advertisements. An exploratory factor analysis revealed four primary motivations for accessing religious Facebook content: ministering, spiritual enlightenment, religious information, and entertainment. Along with identifying the uses and gratifications received from engaging with faith-based Facebook content, this research reveals how the frequency of Facebook use, the intensity of Facebook use for religious purposes, and also religiosity predict motivations for accessing this social networking site for faith-based purposes. The data revealed those who frequently use Facebook for posting, liking, commenting, and sharing faith-based content and who are more religious are more likely to minister to others. Frequent use also predicted seeking religious information. The affiliation with like-minded individuals afforded by this medium provides faith-based users with supportive content and communities that motivate the use of Facebook for obtaining spiritual guidance, for accessing religious resources, and for relaxing and being entertained.

Teachers' attitudes towards social media (SM) use in online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of SM use by teachers and religious scholars during physical distancing

“…Most importantly, the use of SM platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and others, from religious sects for their religious campaign and teachings has been very apparent (Ibahrine, 2020). Besides, as Brubaker and Haighm (2017) posits, SM users have been found to obtain spiritual and temporal benefits from faith-based content shared by others. Research, for example, Weaver and Stansbury (2014) and Al-Mosa (2015) though informs about religion to influence one's attitude and social values, however, it has not explored an indirect influence, such as the use of SM by religious scholars, and its influence on teachers' attitudes of opting it in online learning.…”

Online Temptations: COVID-19 and Religious Misinformation in the MENA Region

“…Social media platforms have become digital worship spaces for some believers. In recent years, religious leaders were able to share their teachings, while repurposing and remixing Holy scripture to bolster religious participation ( Brubaker & Haigh, 2017 ; Cheong, 2014 ). Social media have in some instances disrupted and challenged the traditional forms of religious authority structures.…”

Social media and religion: Missiological perspective on the link between Facebook and the emergence of prophetic churches in southern Africa

“…Faimau and Behrens (2016:66), for example, analysed the ways in which certain linguistic strategies and religious discourses used in Facebook posts, reviews and comments on a religion-based Facebook page create and shape the narratives of religious authority, religious identity and religious community. Brubaker and Haigh (2017:1) explored why Christians use Facebook for religious purposes and the need for engaging with religious content on Facebook. Coman and Coman (2017:129) show that in a post-secular society, the religious imagery is not only a 'canopy' inherited and kept because of convenience, but a cultural frame of the significant public sphere.…”