Chapter on Identity written by Mia Lovheim

In Lovheim's chapter she argues that religion online takes many forms, and as many different effects on personal identity. Lovheim states that identity is "the process where an individual develops the capacity to grasp the meaning of situations in everyday life and their own position in relation to them" (pg. 2). Many people are using the internet to help them "grasp" who they are as people, ultimately strengthening their identity. Lovheim aruges [people] use the web more as an additional venue for their religious identity and integrate religious elements as one part of their identities"(pg.12). The concept of using the web as an additional venue for religious identity is found on the site, http://www.christianforums.net/forum.php. On this site we find Christian internet users discussing various aspects of Christianity. I found one particular user talking about an issue at his church he said that "So here is my issue: basically our church leadership is really hounding people regarding living together without being legally married"(Christianforums.net". The point of this is not the content of his statement, but just to point that this user has a church that he goes to, but is using this forum to supplement his faith and give himself and additional venue to express his religious identity. He is not happy with the situation at his church, and is using this forum to express his dissatisfaction. This is a case where online media provides an avenue for a user to strengthen their religious identity. This user is  able to express his thoughts to a Christian community, which might not have happened if he was plugged into his church alone.