Process Virtualization Theory in Exploring Faith and Religion in Digital Spaces

Significant changes continue to take place in the way digital technology is influencing how faith and religion are practiced. In this qualitative method of research, the factors influencing the virtualization of faith and religion were analyzed and tested using the Process Virtualization Theory. The case study was conducted in three phases: first, the perspectives of church members were elicited to identify the process requirements in virtual religion; second, their experiences on how information technologies characterize the requirements in virtual religion were sought; and third, their assessment of the current virtual religious practices were probed. The phenomenon of virtual religion is yet to be fully explored, and studies that pay attention to IS theoretical and methodological foundations is still in its infancy stage, hence this research validated the PVT and explored how its constructs (process requirements and IT mechanisms) affect the virtualization of faith and religious practices among Catholic church members