Gary R. Bunt is a twenty-year pioneer in the study of cyber-Islamic
environments (CIEs). In his new book, Bunt explores the diverse and
surprising ways digital technology is shaping how Muslims across
vast territories relate to religious authorities in fulfilling
spiritual, mystical, and legalistic agendas. From social networks
to websites, essential elements of religious practices and
authority now have representation online. Muslims, embracing the
immediacy and general accessibility of the internet, are
increasingly turning to cyberspace for advice and answers to
important religious questions. Online environments often challenge
traditional models of authority, however. One result is the rise of
digitally literate religious scholars and authorities whose
influence and impact go beyond traditional boundaries of imams,
mullahs, and shaikhs.
Bunt shows how online rhetoric and social media are being used to
articulate religious faith by many different kinds of Muslim
organizations and individuals, from Muslim comedians and women's
rights advocates to jihad-oriented groups, such as the "Islamic
State" and al-Qaeda, which now clearly rely on strategic digital
media policies to augment and justify their authority and draw
recruits. This book makes clear that understanding CIEs is crucial
for the holistic interpretation of authority in contemporary
Islam.