Christian Digital Faith Formation Among Young Adults: A Literature Review
This report presents the results of a systematic literature review study on the main theories at the basis of practices of digital faith formation among young adults (aged 18–25) and the outcomes that might be expected from digital faith formation strategies. The review is based on scholarly works i...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Religious education
Year: 2025, Volume: 120, Issue: 5, Pages: 438-455 |
| Further subjects: | B
faith formation
B Young adults B Digital B online learning |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This report presents the results of a systematic literature review study on the main theories at the basis of practices of digital faith formation among young adults (aged 18–25) and the outcomes that might be expected from digital faith formation strategies. The review is based on scholarly works in peer-reviewed journals regarding the main subject published from 1994 to 2024. Twenty-two journal articles were selected for review, and the discussion of insights was presented based on nine themes. The inclusion of only a limited number of journal articles confirms the impression that there is not much scientific research available about Christian digital faith formation among young adults. The contexts discussed in the 22 articles vary from churches’ youth ministry practices to religious education at school to self-care mobile apps. The report formulates a number of conclusions on the opportunities and downsides of learning environments for digital faith formation among young adults, a theological lens through which these practices can be viewed, and the importance of a healthy community culture and its significance for the mental health of young adults. Many churches and youth-focused organizations around the world carry out initiatives that expand their practices or try out new tools and approaches in the field of digital faith formation among young adults (aged 18–25). This report presents the results of a systematic literature review study on what we already know about these practices: What are the main theories behind them, and what outcomes might be expected from digital faith formation strategies? The main research question addressed in the study is: What insights can be distilled from existing scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles published in the period between January 1997 and September 2024 with regard to Christian digital faith formation among young adults? Twenty-two journal articles were selected for review, and the discussion of insights was presented based on nine themes. The inclusion of only a limited number of journal articles confirms the impression that there is not much scientific research available about Christian digital faith formation among young adults. The contexts discussed in the 22 articles vary from churches’ youth ministry practices to religious education at school to self-care mobile apps. The report formulates a number of conclusions on the opportunities and downsides of learning environments for digital faith formation among young adults, a theological lens through which these practices can be viewed, and the importance of a healthy community culture and its significance for the mental health of young adults. |
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| ISSN: | 1547-3201 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religious education
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/00344087.2025.2546240 |
