Social Journal of Studies in Education
Vol. 1 No. 02 (2025): Desember

Transformation and Duality of Religious Authority in The Digital Era

Ulil Abdillah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
23 Dec 2025

Abstract

This study examines the shift in religious authority amidst the dominance of social media and the post-truth era. Religious authority, which was once singular and static, now faces the challenges of democratization and fragmentation. Using descriptive qualitative methods and theoretical perspectives ranging from Marshall McLuhan to Bryan S. Turner, this study analyzes the interaction between technology and tradition. The results show that social media has transformed religious authority into a competitive actor in the public arena through digital indicators such as followers, likes, and shares. This phenomenon has triggered the emergence of "Celebrity Ustadz" who often displace traditional ulama due to their expertise in managing algorithms and emotional narratives. In the post-truth era, objective facts tend to be defeated by personal sentiment, forcing authority holders to choose between the depth of knowledge or the relevance of digital aesthetics. In conclusion, social media creates a new ecosystem that redefines religious authority as a "brand" in a highly competitive digital identity market

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

sjse

Publisher

Subject

Religion Education Social Sciences Other

Description

Social Journal of Studies in Education is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on the socio-humanist approach in education, with a particular emphasis on the social, cultural, and humanist aspects of the learning process. This journal publishes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research ...