Abstract

There are three events in the history of mankind that have led to fundamental changes in religion and religious life. The first is the distribution of books and other media through printing houses, the second is the development of publishing (newspapers, magazines, etc.) and urbanization as a result of industrialization, and the third is the Internet or digital applications. Printing and urbanization have changed religious thought, lifestyle, and forms of belief not only in Europe or in Jewish, Islamic, and Christian societies, but also in Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist societies. When the Internet became the most widely used source of information in the 2000s, people's beliefs, thinking, and lifestyle underwent a transformation. If the modern era is marked by the printing press, then television, radio and digitalization have become symbols of postmodernity. In the so-called "virtual, cyber, digital, online" world, humanity's mind, emotions, behavior, and conversations are transferred from real life to a virtual process.
Artificial intelligence and digitalization are among the most important transformative tools of our time, leading to profound changes in how people understand religious identity. This article aims to explore the impact of these processes on religious beliefs and practices, as well as identity. While new communication tools and virtual platforms offered by digitalization facilitate access to religious information, they also alter traditional religious structures. Conversely, the role of artificial intelligence in interpreting religious teachings and shaping people's spiritual experiences is becoming increasingly evident.
This study not only examines the long-term impact of these technological changes on religious identity and society but also offers a multidimensional solution to the innovative and challenging aspects of the digital age pertaining to religious identity.