Scripture in the digital age …
From print to pixel.
Transmediatization is the presentation of the Bible in electronic formats. Since the 15th century, with the advent of the Gutenberg Press, the primary means of distributing and reading the Bible was through the medium of print. Since the development of computers in the 1950s and the commercialization of the Internet in the 1990s, the digital medium has eclipsed the print medium. A new era has dawned in how we think, speak, see and correspond. Quickly and dramatically, the digital wave has crested.
The implications of transmediatization are far-reaching. Printed Scriptures, while important, have to make room for hypertext (the digital form of highly interconnected and multidimensional narrative). This generation sees with different eyes and hears with different ears. Change is happening faster than ever before. People reading books in an electronic format now account for most of the population.
Navigating the future of Bible engagement.
Adapting* the Bible to the digital medium isn’t an option; it’s necessary. The church (Bible agencies included) requires a fresh understanding and response to how we invite and encourage connections with the Bible. New territory must be explored and settled. This will entail using new creativity, language, words, and new ways of using and illustrating words.
How we provide access to and interaction with the Bible may determine whether or not facilitating encounters with God and the progressive transformation of people will meaningfully occur in the years ahead. About 90% of the global population own smartphones – making phones the most common devices for accessing the Internet. With this in mind, Scripture Union developed the SU Canada app for Android and Apple phones. The SU Canada app helps connect people with Jesus and His Story. The key feature of the app is the eDaily Prayers. The eDaily Prayers, uploaded from Monday to Friday, provide reflections on Scripture and ‘scaffolding for meditation.’ The app also features the Bible Engagement Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and the opportunity to sign up to receive SU’s free eDaily Devotions called theStory
*Adaption does not imply, in any way, the changing of the content or canon of the Scriptures. Adaption refers to the change or modification of the way we provide access to the Bible. That is, adaptation is making the Bible available in ways that are suitable for a new and different purpose.
Join the conversation. Share your insights about Scripture in the digital age.
Related Articles
Bible Engagement After COVID-19
Summary
Scripture in the digital age. Transmediatization refers to the transition of the Bible into digital formats, replacing print as the primary means of distribution since the advent of the Gutenberg Press. The rise of computers and the Internet has transformed how people engage with content, with the digital medium rapidly surpassing print in popularity. This shift necessitates adapting the Bible for new media, incorporating hypertext and interactivity to reach modern audiences who think, see, and hear differently. Tools like the SU Canada app, which offers daily Scripture reflections and other features, exemplify how the digital age can facilitate deeper connections with the Bible and God.
© Copyright Scripture Union Canada
