New Age Goes Online: Relocating Spirituality in Virtual Spaces. The Study of Damanhur

• Vitullo, Alessandra ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Rome Tor Vergata

     University of Rome Tor Vergata

     Roma Capitale, Italia

     
• Localización: Methaodos. revista de ciencias sociales, ISSN-e 2340-8413, Vol. 4, Nº. 2, 2016, págs. 339-348
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.17502/m.rcs.v4i2.125
• Títulos paralelos:
  • El New Age se vuele Online: Reubicando la espiritualidad en espacios virtuales. El estudio de la comunidad Damanhur
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    ¿Es Internet de verdad un nuevo “templo electrónico” donde tanto las religiones tradicionales como las nuevas pueden encontrar y reunir a sus comunidades? Las reglas generalmente crípticas de las TIC y su capacidad de “fragmentar” y relativizar el tiempo y el espacio, podría plantear reflexiones más profundas sobre la condición humana así como sobre la posibilidad de que las personas alcances nuevos niveles de trascendencia. Varios académicos han observado como la “misteriosa” naturaleza y funcionalmente de Internet puede abrir la posibilidad de un nuevo “reencantamiento del mundo” a través del aliento de nuevas experiencias espirituales. La influencia de Internet en la espiritualidad puede ser analizada empíricamente en detalle sobre las actividades virtuales de la comunidad de Damanhur, un pequeño pueblo esotérico en el norte de Italia. El análisis del uso del sitio web de Damanhur puede demostrar que Internet no solo es una herramienta de comunicación, sino que puede encarnar la filosofía espiritual de la comunidad, convirtiéndose en una parte empírica de sus valores. 

  • English

    Is internet really a new "electronic temple" where both traditional and New Religious Movements (NRMs) can find and gather their communities? The cryptic rules of ICTs and their capacity of “de-massifyng” and relativizing time and space raises deeper reflections about the human condition as well as the possibility for individuals to reach new levels of transcendence. Several scholars have observed how the internet’s “mysterious” nature and functions have opened new possibilities of “re-enchantment of the world” through generating new personal and spiritual empowerment. This research looks at the internet’s influence on the virtual activity of Damanhur Spiritual Community, a small esoteric village in Northern Italy. The analysis of the structure of Damanhur’s website demonstrates that internet is not merely a tool of communication, but embodies the spiritual philosophy of Community, becoming an empirical part of its values.

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