The role of media in religious education

This research has been conducted to ascertain the effect of media in education generally and in religious education particularly by addressing the audio-visual, printed resources and social interaction. In the research, a theoretical and conceptual framework regarding the role of the media on religious education has been constructed based on the essential concepts of religion and education. Then the topics of technology, education and religious education has been scrutinized by evaluating the media sociologically. At the same time, it has been assessed that the relation of religion and media, the effects of technology and its usage on religious education, and the positive and negative aspects of media on religious education in consideration of audio-visual, printed resources and social interaction. During this assesment, it has been ascertained that some debates prompted regarding the relation of religion and media, the harmony of religion and technology, the feasibility of an update in the religion and the ustainability of the traditional religious education. These debates previously have been addressed scientifically and also assessed by some periodical publications. In this study, a different perspective has been presented about the aferomentioned debates and some assessments of this perspective have been given a place. In this research, while choosing the concepts and subheadings, the popularity among society and the preferability in education have been considered as the essential criteria. The research content also includes some assessments carried out of the definition of the chosen concepts and their history of origins. According to the determination of this research, although the media usage has positive and negative impacts on religious education, nevertheless positive impacts outweighted. The most important argument which is leading to this conclusion is that the evaluation of the education and technology as a complementary by society who follows the technological advancements closely. The fact that technology has features that offer a livable life, quick information access, and virtual social environements have an important role in the society's having such a perception. In today's world, where every member of the society can easily access a media element, it has been determined that the education is of higher quality and the outputs are more permanent with the use of media in education and religious education. Although this situation seems to be completely beneficial, even if the amount of time spent in media usage increases, the share of time spent on education decreases if it is not managed well and it affects success negatively.