Shifting Beliefs on Digital Platforms: The Case of the ‘Godless Utopia’ of Binnur Duman Academy
Medya ve Din Araştırmaları Dergisi December 31, 2024 Merve Bahadur, İhsan Çapcioğlu 1 citation
The digitalization of religion has increased the visibility of belief systems on social media, with platforms like Instagram offering flexible spiritual experiences. This study examines the Instagram account of the spiritual group Binnur Duman Academy (545 posts, 813 thousand followers) through content analysis of 15 IGTV videos published between January 2023 and March 2024. Practices such as psychic surgery, return to self, and retreat camps are discussed as new forms of belief outside institutionalized religions. The analysis evaluates how these rituals within new age movements are recognized on social networks, highlighting the impact of spiritual experiences on religious practice and spiritual quests.