Identifying Moral and Spiritual Problems of Activism and Clergy in Virtual Space

Author

Professor at Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy

10.22081/jare.2024.68128.1877

Abstract

“Self” as a challenging concept of the 20th century has been discussed in two spectrums, essentialist and empiricist. The first group views it as unique, while the second sees it as a product of social action. According to the second approach, selves are transformed in the virtual space by creating different scenes from the actual space. In different situations and platforms, one's self can present with various masks and have a distinct representation in front of others. This article uses the semi-structured interview method to examine the moral and spiritual problems resulting from developments in virtual space. The clergy are examined as prominent activists by objectifying them in this space. The qualitative content analysis method was used to answer and categorize our questions. The issues covered in this article include the universality of the clergy, interactions with abnormal groups, threats and opportunities for preaching, the prohibition of self-prosperity, and internal and external self-disclosure. The article also discusses narcissism and other related topics in detail.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. References

    1. Abdullahian, H. & Tavakoli, A. (2003). “Constructing a virtual world with commanding implications”. Culture-Communication Studies, 16(8): p. 69-98 .
    2. Abdullahian, H. & Zahedi, M. J. & Sheikh Ansari, M. (2013). “Evaluation of structure, interactions, anonymity and self-representation in four virtual social networks”. Media and Culture, 3(2): p. 103-127.
    3. Assarroudi, A., Heshmati Nabavi F., Armat, M. R., Ebadi ,A. & Vaismoradi, M. (2018). “Directed qualitative content analysis: the description and elaboration of its underpinning methods and data analysis process”. Journal of Research in Nursing, 23(1): p. 42-55. Doi: 10.1177/1744987117741667.
    4. Doherty, T. (2017). The Presentation of Self in 'Online' Life: A Content Analysis of Instagram Profiles. Master thesis (Supervisor: F. Nelson). Sociology, Calgary University.
    5. Dreyfus, H. L. (2004). About the Internet. Translated by Ali Farsi Nejad. Tehran: Saghi.
    6. Gane, N. & Beer, D. (2008). New media. Oxford: Berg.
    7. Ghasemi, H. (2013). The second cyber life doctrine. Master's thesis. Faculty of Management and Accounting. Allameh Tabatabai University.
    8. Goffman, E. (2016). Self-expression in everyday life. Translated by Masoud Kianpour, 3rd edition. Tehran: Markaz publishing house.
    9. Hassani, H. & Kalantari, A. H. (2017). “Phenomenological analysis of the lived experience of users of the visual social network Instagram in Iran”. Quarterly of Culture and Communication Studies, 18(40): p. 33-62. Doi: 10.22083/jccs.2018.97513.2250
    10. Hogan, B. (2010). “The Presentation of Self in the Age of Social Media: Distinguishing Performances and Exhibitions Online”. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society. 30(6): p. 377-386. Doi:10.1177/0270467610385893
    11. Hojsgaard, M. T. & Warburg, M. (2005). Religion and cyberspace. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
    12. Marsh, D. & Stoker, J. (2010). Theory and Methods in Political Science. Translated by Amir Mohammad Haji Yousefi. 3rd edition. Tehran: Research Center for Strategic Studies.
    13. Papacharissi, Z. (2010). A networked self: identity, community and culture on social network sites. New York: Routledge.
    14. Ravadrad, A. & Gishnizjani, G. (2017). “Typology of media body representation patterns of Iranian users on Instagram”. New Media Studies, 3(10): p. 310-265. 265-310. Doi: 10.22054/cs.2017.22288.237
    15. Robinson, L. (2007). “The cyberself: the self-ing project goes online, symbolic interaction in the digital age”. New Media & Society, 9(1): p. 93-110. Doi: 10.1177/1461444807072216
    16. Sadeghipour, M. S. (2012). Žižek’s poetry; Four articles and their description. Tehran: Qoqnoos publishing house.
    17. Seyed Emami, K. (2015). Interview methods for political research. Tehran: Imam Sadiq University.
    18. Smith, G. (2006). Erving Goffman. London: Routledge.
    19. Clair, Michael. (2016). Object Relation and Self-Psychology; an introduction. Translated by Alireza Tahmasab & Hamed Ali Aghaei. 4th edition. Tehran: Ney Publishing.
    20. Torbati, S. (2005). “"Self" performance in virtual reality”. Communication Research Quarterly, 12(44): p. 138-151.
    21. Zabihzadeh, A., Taghdisi, M., Mazaheri, M. A. & Shokri, O. (2016). “Comparing the way people face ethical situations in the virtual world and the real world”. Culture Strategy Quarterly, 10(39): p. 122-97.