Exclusivism in Cyberspace: Challenges in Interfaith Communication
Yuangga Kurnia Yahya, Indra Ari Fajari, Farhah
University of Darussalam Gontor Ponorogo
Abstract
Along with advances in technology in the digital era brought many changes in relations between people, also has a role in the level of social and cultural, including in the realm of religion. A distinctive feature of the digital era that eliminates borders is in fact making private spaces in a pluralistic community in cyberspace. The cyberspace community contains those who have the same thoughts and beliefs and tend to talk about the same thing. This article tries to see a phenomenon called Echo Chambers through the perspective of Stella Ting-Toomey Intercultural Communication Theory. This study shows that the development of social media was also followed by the shadow of Echo Chambers. The tendency to isolate oneself and associate with those who understand one another will create separate spaces between one religion and another. As a result, communication which is an effort to eliminate the polarization of the differences between "Us" and "The Others" is precisely the way to form an exclusivism in cyberspace. Among the efforts to anticipate the emergence of a gap is to create melting-pot spaces in the real world. Counter narrative also needs to be built to open these exclusive barriers. Muslim scholars sought to introduce the importance of communication in achieving the harmony in community. Some Ulama have also explained the role and function of communication in achieving the goals of the ummah, as well as trying to provide an Islamic perspective regarding communication behavior. More important, is to create a person who is a wise, open user of social media and uses epoche in looking at the world outside.
Keywords: Exclusivism, Echo Chambers, Interfaith Communication, Cyberspace.
Topic: International Conference on Islamic Studies in the Digital Era