Abstract
Online social networks can be considered harbingers of modernity and are claimed to encourage individualization in religious practices. Nevertheless, religious minority groups, including reclusive communities, legitimize their use for religious and communal purposes. Accordingly, social networks are emerging as dynamic third spaces of identity reflections on key issues of lived religion. This study examined how members of a religious group negotiate their identity over online social networks. Accordingly, we conducted a content analysis of 70 ultra-Orthodox Jewish public (Haredi) WhatsApp groups and 40 semi-structured interviews with participants. Findings revealed three primary facets of identity performance: communal affinity; proclaimed conformism and practiced agency; and contesting dogmatism and pragmatism. Through these facets, a new social identity is crystallized within the Haredi sector in Israel. Thus, the secluded spaces of WhatsApp groups enable a marginalized grassroots religious public to promote incremental social change without shattering communal boundaries.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1034 |
| Journal | Religions |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors wish to thank Esther Singer for the language editing. The authors wish to thank Aref Badarne for his assistance in all stages of the manuscript’s preparations. Nakhi Mishol-Shauli’s work is supported by the President of the State of Israel’s Scholarship for Research Excellence and Innovation, and by the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture Scholarship for promising young researchers.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
Keywords
- identity construction
- Jewish ultra-Orthodox
- messaging apps
- religion online
- social networks
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Religious studies