An international symposium titled “Media, Religion and Culture” is taking place in Flores, eastern Indonesia, from February 19–21, 2026. The event gathers scholars and practitioners from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia to discuss digital media's impact on religion and culture in Southeast Asia. Organizers aim to examine the opportunities and challenges digital media presents in societies with religious plurality and strong cultural traditions. The Rector of IFTK Ledalero stressed that digital religion is not neutral but an ethical and political arena where religious identity and norms are negotiated. A call was made for critical reflection on digital engagement to protect religious freedom, pluralism, and human rights.
15 days ago
An international symposium titled “Media, Religion and Culture” took place from February 19–21, 2026, at the Institut Filsafat dan Teknologi Kreatif Ledalero (IFTK Ledalero) in Flores, eastern Indonesia.1
Organized with the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication at St. John's University, Thailand, it gathered scholars, researchers, and practitioners from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia.1
The event focused on how digital media reshapes religious practices and cultural life in Southeast Asia's pluralistic societies.1
IFTK Ledalero Rector Prof. Dr. Otto Gusti Ndegong Madung, SVD, highlighted the ethical and political dimensions of digital religion during the opening.1
He stressed that digital technology is not neutral, serving as an arena for negotiating religious identity, morals, and citizenship via algorithms used in governance and evangelization.1
Madung called for critical reflection to protect religious freedom, pluralism, and human rights in mediated societies.1
Benjamina P. Flor from the University of the Philippines delivered a keynote titled “Embodying the Sacred in the Digital Age: A Communication Approach.”1
She argued that online worship reconfigures sacred experiences rather than merely substituting physical gatherings, sustaining spiritual connection through technology with sincere intention.1
Fr. Anthony Le Duc from the Asian Research Center explored how religion is expressed through digital cultural forms like language, symbols, and rituals.1
He noted that media actively shapes public perceptions of religion, potentially fostering solidarity or division in Southeast Asia's diverse religious landscape.1
A panel discussion featured Alexander Flor (University of the Philippines), Ronald Epafras (Universitas Gadjah Mada), and Fr. Anthony Le Duc, addressing social media, religious communication, and peacebuilding.1
Participants emphasized responsible communication to influence interreligious relations positively in multicultural contexts.1
The symposium equipped leaders for digital integration in education, ministry, and pastoral practice.1
It positioned the digital realm as a cultural and spiritual frontier requiring ethical navigation in Southeast Asia.1
Digital media shapes religious identity and freedom in plural societies
Digital media profoundly influences how individuals and communities form and express their religious identities while simultaneously testing the boundaries of religious freedom, particularly in pluralistic societies where diverse beliefs coexist. From a Catholic perspective, this dual dynamic presents both evangelistic opportunities and significant challenges, calling for authentic witness, critical literacy, and a commitment to dialogue that upholds human dignity.
In the digital age, social networks and online platforms have become extensions of personal and communal life, where exchanging information inherently involves sharing one's worldview, hopes, and ideals. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that "a person is always involved in what he or she communicates," underscoring the need for a Christian way of being present in the digital world through honest, open, and responsible communication. This presence shapes religious identity not merely by disseminating content but by embodying Gospel-consistent choices in digital profiles, even when faith is not explicitly mentioned. Seminarians and priests, immersed in this environment from formation onward, are called to develop media competence as part of their human formation, viewing digital spaces as a "new ‘agora’" for encounter and evangelization.
Yet, this shaping power is ambivalent. The Dicastery for Communication's reflection, Towards Full Presence, questions the depth of digital relationships: "How much of our digital relationships is the fruit of deep and truthful communication, and how much is merely shaped by unquestioned opinions and passionate reactions?" In plural societies, where religious identities intermingle online, platforms can foster vibrant expressions of faith—such as virtual communities sharing devotions or testimonies—but they also risk reducing identity to performative or polarized fragments. Pope Leo XIV, in his message for the 60th World Communications Day, warns of AI's anthropomorphizing tendencies and algorithmic biases that distort perceptions of reality, urging media literacy to preserve authentic human communication. Without such discernment, religious identity may fragment into echo chambers, diluting the holistic witness Christ demands.
Religious freedom, rooted in the human person's dignity to seek truth without coercion, faces new pressures in digital environments. The internet's speed and accessibility enable religious proclamation across borders, aligning with the Church's vision of digital peripheries as places for encounter. However, as the International Theological Commission notes, this revolution introduces "emotional interaction of increasing intensity," fake news, polarization, and haters, which splinter freedom of expression and expose religious communities to manipulation. In plural societies, where minorities and majorities interact virtually, unchecked online dynamics can hinder reflective ethics, portraying religions as lobbies or fueling ideological struggles rather than fostering genuine dialogue.
Pope John Paul II affirmed that religious freedom is a "fundamental human right" essential for peace, prohibiting states or platforms from imposing beliefs or restricting worship. Yet digital media complicates this: algorithms curate feeds that amplify divisions, while deepfakes and cyberbullying violate privacy, indirectly curtailing the freedom to bear witness openly. Pope Leo XIV echoes this in addressing persecuted Christians, insisting that denying religious freedom erodes ethical bonds, breeding suspicion over dialogue. In Indonesia-like contexts of constitutional pluralism, digital tools could safeguard freedoms but often exacerbate tensions if not guided by responsibility.
Amid pluralism, digital media can promote a "culture of dialogue" where religions contribute positively to peace and justice by publicly professing ethical values. Pope John Paul II envisioned inter-religious dialogue as vital for the new millennium, warding off "wars of religion" through shared commitments to peace under the one God's name. The Church's social doctrine reinforces that society must not privatize religion or force consciences, allowing free exercise in public spheres—including digital ones.
Pastoral engagement requires "full presence": not just using media but inhabiting it humanely, educating for fraternity amid connections. Pope Leo XIV calls bishops to dwell the digital world responsibly, transforming it into a space of freedom. For Catholics in plural societies, this means witnessing consistently online, responding to inquiries about hope (1 Pet 3:15), and collaborating for the common good, as Benedict XVI urged. Initiatives like AI literacy education equip believers to navigate biases, protect data, and counter deepfakes, ensuring digital tools serve truth rather than distort it.
The Church's magisterium provides a roadmap: authenticity in proclamation, neighborly reflection, and literacy against digital pitfalls. Priests and laity must integrate digital formation with spirituality, avoiding aloofness from this "new agora." In plural contexts, upholding religious freedom for all—believers and non-believers—prevents discrimination and builds unity. Pope Francis noted that healthy pluralism values differences without silencing convictions, a principle amplified online.
Ultimately, digital media shapes religious identity and freedom by mirroring humanity's relational core: it can unite in truth or divide through illusion. Catholics are summoned to full, authentic presence, fostering digital humanism that honors dignity, promotes dialogue, and defends freedoms in plural societies.