What can we Learn from the Mediatisation of Religion Debate?

The criticisms of Hjarvard's theory of mediatisation presented in the articles of this special issue indicate that it may only be applicable to particular religious, historical, social and political contexts. More specifically, Hjarvard's theory seems most relevant to societies characterised by the prevalence of non-confessional media institutions, declining direct public engagement with religious institutions, the association of religious authority with specific traditional institutions and wider evidence of secularisation. His theory, therefore, has more explanatory power for Northern and Western, de-Christianised societies, than for other times and places. Although Hjarvard's theory may help us to understand some specific contexts, the mediatisation of religion debate helps to clarify the structures and relationships that need to be examined if we are to develop a wider range of models of religion, media and social change. These include the intersections between religious and media institutions, technologies, cultural frames, sacred forms, publics, shared communicative spaces, power, stratification and significant social agents. This article concludes with comments about the implications of this framework for future research.