Visiting Scholar Presents on Polarization in Religion

Last month, Lina Rodenhausen, a doctoral candidate at the Center for Religious Studies at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, gave a presentation to faculty members of the College for Human Development, Culture and Media about her current research for a dissertation. The presentation, “Exploring the Nexus of Polarization, Religion, and Social Media,” focused on her research into two diverse Christian communities on the social media platform Reddit. During the presentation, Rodenhausen expressed her fascination with the subject, elaborated on her preliminary findings and responded to questions from the audience, seeking diverse points of view on her ongoing research.

Rodenhausen’s motivation for attending Seton Hall University is twofold. First, Ruth Tsuria, Ph.D., associate professor of communications and director of graduate studies, met Rodenhausen last summer at the International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture conference hosted by Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Tsuria and Rodenhausen were familiar with Rodenhausen’s academic advisor and engaged in discussions about their respective research, finding each other’s work interesting. Therefore, Rodenhausen contacted Tsuria in the fall requesting a visit, a request she happily complied with.

Furthermore, during her dissertation, Rodenhausen sought to validate her research and methodology by acquiring diverse perspectives and suggestions to improve her research. Presenting to fellow communication scholars gave her the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share similar research interests. This allows her to improve her research methods and her view of the data.

Discussing her research, Rodenhausen noted that she chose to study “the community r/OpenChristian, which was created for people with an interest in progressive Christianity, and another the community r/TrueChristian, which includes mostly Christians with conservative views getting together.” By analyzing these forums, Rodenhausen sought to understand the polarization that fuels both groups’ interactions online and offline. She identified significant divisions within the communities, especially regarding the interpretation of Scripture and the portrayal of God’s gender, male or female. These thematic differences underscore the deep ideological divide between the two groups.

Additionally, by turning her attention to the subreddits, Rodenhausen sought to understand the impact of social media on polarization, which prompted her to ask questions about social media and how it affects polarization. Does social media create an echo chamber within these communities, leading to an us-versus-them mentality? Does this exacerbate polarization, which culminates in the inevitable outcome of all political and religious discussions? To the casual ear, political polarization is a terrifying prospect. While this couldn’t be further from the truth for Rodenhausen, she believes there is something to be gained intellectually from studying it.

While discussing her approach to researching this polarization, Rodenhausen discussed the following process:

One approach that helps me understand communities and the polarization between them is the analysis of metaphors. This dissertation is part of a joint research center on metaphors of religion. In various sub-projects that focus on different religious traditions, geographical areas and historical times, we work together on the assumption that metaphors make a crucial contribution to religious meaning. In my analyses, I can observe how the metaphors these Christians use convey their religious beliefs and theological positions, allowing me to work out their differences.

To help reveal these metaphorical differences, Rodenhausen developed a computational method, using practices common in the digital humanities field. Developing an algorithm makes processing the data easier and improves the critical analysis of the research.

As Rodenhausen nears completion of her project, the dissertation path still presents enormous challenges. She said, “The difficulty in writing a dissertation is that you limit yourself to the aspects you can research and answer, yet present enough to make a significant contribution to your field.” The challenge is great, but if the faculty’s reactions during the presentation are any indication, she is certainly up for the task.

About the Institute for Communication and Religion

Launched in fall 2017, the Institute for Communication and Religion within the College of Human Development, Culture and Media provides a nexus for continued scholarly exploration of communication topics critical to religion and society. Guided by the spirit of ecumenical and interfaith cooperation, the Institute seeks to engage in public dialogue and debate, promote academic research and support the religious dimension of creativity – all while upholding the values ​​of servant leadership, curricular innovation and intellectual upholds excellence.

Categories: Faith and Service, Research