eprintid: 6959 rev_number: 24 eprint_status: archive userid: 1 dir: disk0/00/00/69/59 datestamp: 2006-11-14 10:12:26 lastmod: 2016-01-09 16:33:02 status_changed: 2012-08-14 15:20:01 type: article metadata_visibility: show creators_name: MacWilliams, Marc title: Techno-Ritualization : the Gohozon Controversy on the Internet ispublished: pub subjects: 200 divisions: 72050 keywords: Internet , ReligionInternet , Religion cterms_swd: Ritual cterms_swd: Buddhismus cterms_swd: Nichiren cterms_swd: Mandala cterms_swd: Mandala abstract: In Techno-Ritualization – The Gohozon Controversy on the Internet, Mark MacWilliams describes the case of the “Gohonzon”, Nichiren’s sacred mandala consisting of the title of the Lotus Sutra that is used for worship in the various Nichiren Buddhist sects. Whereas this mandala is generally considered as extremely sacred and it is demanded that it should be housed in the home altar and only displayed privately for devotional chanting, it can nowadays be found on the Internet as a “prayer Gohonzon” from the American Independent Movement, a Buddhist group unaffiliated with the official authority Sôka Gakkai International (SGI). The Internet site offers a virtual altar with a fully displayed Gohonzon, twinkling lighted candles before it, and the chant, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,” flashing syllable by syllable on the screen. MacWilliam underlines the power of the Internet to transform religious practice with the example of the virtual prayer and to challenge real life ecclesiastical organizations: the way the Internet is being used is transforming the way people “do” religion. abstract_translated_lang: eng date: 2006 date_type: published id_scheme: DOI id_number: 10.11588/heidok.00006959 portal_cluster_id: p-relinternet portal_order: 02.1 ppn_swb: 164460194X own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-opus-69597 language: eng bibsort: MACWILLIAMTECHNORITU2006 full_text_status: public publication: Online – Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet volume: 02.1 citation: MacWilliams, Marc (2006) Techno-Ritualization : the Gohozon Controversy on the Internet. Online – Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet, 02.1. document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/6959/1/Aufsatz_MacWilliams.pdf