Rituals, Sacred Spaces and Technology: The Transformation of Religious Practices in Indonesia’s Digital Culture

La Basri; Asnath Naftali Remtulla; Jumui; Rinikso Kartono; Wahyudi

Authors

La Basri Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia.
Asnath Naftali Remtulla Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia
Jumui Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia
Rinikso Kartono Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia
Wahyudi Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia

Keywords:

Digitalisation of Religion, Sacred Space, Religious Rituals, Hybrid Religious Practices, Islamic Religious Education, Digital Culture

Abstract

This study examines the transformation of religious practices within Indonesia’s digital culture, focusing on the relationship between rituals, sacred spaces, and technology. Research on religious digitalisation in Indonesia has largely focused on online sermons, religious influencers, and religious representations on social media, while changes in the meaning of sacred spaces, ritual efficacy, and the reconfiguration of religious authority within local contexts remain limited. This study employs a qualitative narrative literature review through thematic synthesis of 50 peer-reviewed sources from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and nationally accredited SINTA journals, most of which were published between 2006 and 2026. The analysis identifies three main themes: (1) the redefinition of sacred spaces from physical places into domestic spaces mediated by digital technology; (2) the transformation of rituals from physical to virtual presence, giving rise to hybrid religious practices; and (3) the shift of authority from traditional institutions towards digital network-based authority. Based on these findings, this study proposes the concept of “Sacred Digital Fluidity” as a heuristic lens for understanding how sacredness is produced, negotiated, and maintained across physical and digital spaces within the Indonesian context.

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