Technological Advancement and the Decline of Religiosity: A Sociological Analysis of the History of Religions and Their Future in the Twenty-First Century

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the relationship between technological progress and patterns of religiosity in the digital age, by presenting a sociological approach that goes beyond traditional descriptive accounts toward building a theoretical interpretation that explains transformations in religious knowledge, authority, and practice. Methodology: The research adopts a conceptual analysis based on integrating two main frameworks: Manuel Castells' theory of the network society and Max Weber's concept of the "disenchantment of the world," alongside a critical review of sociological literature and contemporary studies on religion and technology. Findings: The results of the analysis indicate that technological progress does not necessarily lead to a decline in religiosity, but rather contributes to its reconfiguration within new patterns. The study shows that digital technology: • Dismantles the monopoly over religious knowledge and expands its sources • Redistributes religious authority toward decentralized digital actors • Contributes to the transformation of religious practices from collective to flexible individualistic forms Contribution: The research presents a multi-level analytical model (epistemic, authoritative, and practical) that explains the relationship between technology and religiosity as a relationship of reconfiguration, rather than linear decline. It also contributes to developing the theoretical debate in the sociology of religion by transcending the traditional dichotomy between secularization and the persistence of religion. Conclusion: The research concludes that religion in the digital age does not disappear but is rather reconfigured within a new network structure that redefines the relationship between the individual, religious knowledge, and authority, establishing a new pattern that can be described as digital or network religiosity.