Article Per Year (5 Year)
p-Index From 2021 - 2026
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All Journal Khazanah Journal of Religion and Technology
Ndidi Justice Gbule
Department of Religious & Cultural Studies, University of Port Harcourt
Religion Computer Science & IT Engineering Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

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Deux ex Machina (“ God From the Machine”): Exploring Digital Worship in the Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Christopher Onyewuchi Opara; Ndidi Justice Gbule; Rowland Olumati
Khazanah Journal of Religion and Technology Vol. 1 No. 2 (2023): December
Publisher : Asosiasi Khazanah Cendekia

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/kjrt.v1i2.350

Abstract

This paper presents a sociological exploration of the digital worship practices of the Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt. It investigates the impact of technology on the members’ and how it engages their relationship with the Divine. Utilizing qualitative research, including interviews with members and analysis of online reviews, the study examines the role of digital worship in fostering relationships between members and the divine. It employs the Media and Technological Determinism theories to examine this relationship in depth. The paper also examines the implications of the emergence of the “God from Machine” in worship services, arguing that worshippers are constructing a new type of connection that transforms their religious experiences. The findings demonstrate that digital worship has significantly expanded the reach of Salvation Ministries beyond its physical boundaries. Virtual sermons and prayer sessions have strengthened the sense of community among members, facilitating easier connections with leaders and fellow worshippers. However, caution is advised regarding the potential risks of excessive reliance on technology, diminished personal interaction, and substituting genuine spiritual experiences. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the importance of balancing embracing technology and preserving the authenticity and sincerity of spiritual practices.
Digitized Presence: Refracted Spiritual Realities in Contemporary Nigeria Ndidi Justice Gbule; Patrick Eluke
Khazanah Journal of Religion and Technology Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): June
Publisher : Asosiasi Khazanah Cendekia

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.66948/kjrt.41.49

Abstract

Presence has often been tied to physical proximity. In contemporary Nigerian Christianity, however, this assumption is increasingly difficult to sustain. This paper argues that digital mediation does not simply extend worship into virtual space; it reconfigures what counts as spiritual presence in the first place. Existing scholarship tends to treat media as channels of transmission or as sites of hybrid practice. While useful, such approaches do not go far enough. They leave largely unexamined the question of how presence itself is being reconstituted. Drawing on interpretive engagement with livestream services, WhatsApp prayer exchanges, and social media devotional practices, the paper develops the concept of refracted spiritual presence. The argument is that digital platforms do not merely carry religious content; they reshape the conditions under which presence is recognized, experienced, and authorized. In this setting, participation no longer depends on co-location. Acts such as typing “Amen,” sharing prayer messages, or joining a livestream become part of a wider field of mediated yet effective religious practice. At the same time, this transformation is not without tension. The increased circulation of spiritual content raises questions about commodification, visibility, and the shifting grounds of authority. What emerges is not the disappearance of presence, but its redistribution across interfaces, interactions, and everyday digital routines.
Co-Authors Christopher Onyewuchi Opara Patrick Eluke Rowland Olumati