BaFID organises thematically orientated lecture series under the name ‘Bavarian Interreligious Kolleg’ (BIK for short).
The lecture series for the coming winter semester 2026/2027 will focus on the following topic:
Follow Me! Religious self-expression on social media
Whether it’s sporty priests from Italy, Muslim preachers reaching millions, or ultra-Orthodox rabbis livestreaming, the proclamation of the faith has found a new home – the news feed. In a world where the motto is “Post or you don’t exist”, clergy and scholars from all three monotheistic religions are embracing digital platforms. But what happens to faith when it is expressed amidst selfies and algorithms? Do contemplation and worship disappear in the din of likes? Or is this omnipresent digital presence the only chance left to bring the ‘good news’ to people today?
We invite you to take a look behind the scenes of religious profiles. In our interdisciplinary lecture series, we explore some fascinating questions:
- Staging: How do religious influencers present themselves, balancing authenticity and filters?
- Strategy: What are religious communities really aiming for on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms?
- Contents: Which posts are included in the feed and which are excluded?
Experience thought-provoking analyses from Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives. Join us as we discuss whether the digital space enriches religion or is merely a new form of self-expression.
Fancy some more?
The talks will take place online on the📍ReliLab platform every Thursday at 4.15 pm, starting on 22 October 2026. Join the discussion and take a fresh look at the future of interfaith dialogue!
📅 15. October 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Beautiful, devout, reactionary.
Christian influencers: between digital charisma and authoritarian religious doctrine
PD Dr Claudia Paganini (University of Innsbruck) @claude.paganini
Christian influencers combine Bible quotations and religious teachings with images of beauty, idyllic scenes, family, femininity and a well-ordered world bathed in pastel shades. More or less explicitly, they convey clear notions of gender, sexuality, upbringing and obedience; this religious self-presentation often goes hand in hand with conservative and authoritarian worldviews. Why does such content seem so appealing today – still, or once again? And are the followers of these beautiful, devout and reactionary figures aware of just how recklessly they are currently putting their freedom at risk?
Moderator: Prof. Dr Georges Tamer (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg)
📅 22. October 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Using provocation to boost reach?
Christian fundamentalist and right-wing influencers on social media
Madlen Geidel (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg)
This presentation examines the social media presence of religious and right-wing populist actors in German-speaking countries. It focuses on the digital presentation of topics such as sexual ethics, gender and social order. Using the channel ‘Ketzer der Neuzeit’ as an example, the presentation analyses how religious content is adapted to the logic of social media platforms through provocation, emotionalisation and scandalisation. Through netnography and video analysis, it demonstrates that this gives rise to new, non-institutional forms of religious authority and personalised interpretations.
Moderator: Prof. Dr Michael Bongardt (University of Siegen)
📅 29. October 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
“They give me the motivation.”
Influencers as sources of inspiration and role models for Muslim young people
Dr. Said Topalović (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Influencers are increasingly taking on the role of (para-)social role models for Muslim young people. They inspire them to take up new hobbies, encourage them to take part in sport, read or practise their faith, and serve as role models for lifestyle and everyday life. The findings of an exploratory study involving Muslim young people show that it is not so much the influencers’ religious affiliation that is decisive, but rather their perceived authenticity, ethical credibility and ability to connect with the young people’s own interests. Social media thus becomes a space for orientation, knowledge acquisition and identity formation, in which religious, cultural and everyday influences are interwoven.
Moderator: Prof. Dr Tobias Specker (Sankt Georgen University of Philosophy and Theology)
📅 12. November 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Japan is going viral!
How religious influencers shape Japan’s image around the world
Dunja Sharbat Dar, M.A. (Ruhr University Bochum) @dunja.sharbatdar
Holiday photos and videos from Japan – a country that is both dazzlingly cool and deeply traditional – are flooding Instagram, TikTok and other platforms. As a nation that blends modernity with tradition and is renowned for sushi, anime and video games, Japan has become a popular travel destination. Posts featuring ancient Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and religious talismans are particularly popular. Japan is both cool and traditional – an image shaped significantly by religious influencers and the social media presence of temples and shrines. In her talk, Dunja Sharbat Dar takes a close look at how images and videos of Japanese religious traditions create a global perception of a ‘spiritual’ Japan.
Moderator: Jan Gehm, M.A. (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg)
📅 19. November 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Jesus Glow – or just too much Highlighter
The Renaissance of Religion in Digital Spaces: An Opportunity and a Challenge
Mag. Linda Kreuzer (University of Vienna) @lilinda_cr
Since the Covid pandemic at the very latest, religion and religious content have been regarded on social media as classic markers of identity and lucrative business sectors. The rise of so-called ‘Christfluencers’ goes hand in hand with shifts in the underlying social mood, for example, with regard to gender issues. What are their backgrounds, themes and strategies?
Moderator: Prof. Dr Christian Lange (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg)
📅 26. November 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Fatwa at every click
How TikTok preachers are challenging traditional Islamic scholarship
Professor Emeritus Mag. Dr Rüdiger Lohlker (University of Vienna)
The TikTok platform – often maligned and even less understood – has become an important medium for young people, both Muslim men and women. The role of this platform in contemporary discourse within Muslim communities will be explored. This will be done in three stages: production, reception, and discourse. The aim is to gain an understanding of this relatively new phenomenon. Finally, a comparative look will be taken at other platforms.
Moderator: Ramy Abdin, M.A. (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg)
📅 03. December 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Religious Influencers
Encounters between sinnfluencing and political dynamics
Prof. Dr. Viera Pirker (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M.)
Content to follow
Host: TBC
📅 10. December 2026
🕖 16:15-17:45
Minecraft-religious service
A religious feature in an online game
Dr Sascha Gebauer (Vicar) @gebauer.sascha
Since 2020, the Cansteinsche Bibelanstalt in Berlin e. V. has been holding regular worship services in the online game Minecraft. This initiative has given rise to an active community with participants from across the German-speaking world. The digital gaming environment opens up new forms of religious expression for young people, which connect with their everyday lives and enable active participation. As well as collaborating on virtual projects, spaces are created for sharing personal experiences, discussing existential questions and exploring individual quests for meaning. Using concrete examples from practice, the opportunities and challenges of digital faith-based communication, as well as the potential of Minecraft as a church-based social space, will be presented and discussed.
Moderator: TBC
📅 14. January 2027
🕖 16:15-17:45
Scrolling till you drop
Christian faith, second by second
Sabrina Kielon (Vicar in Fürth) @mit.kaffee.und.talar
A maximum of 60 seconds – the shorter, the better. Content glides through feeds every second. Right in the middle of it all: blessing. This talk explores the tension between digital acceleration and spiritual deepening. As a pastor (Yeet Network/Sæleute), I experience every day how a fleeting swipe can give rise to digital pastoral care when people pause whilst scrolling. I’ll talk about moments when 15-second clips have struck a deep chord, whilst also reflecting on the limitations of the format. A plea for mindful digital presence that touches people at just the right moment.
Moderator: Prof. Dr Elisabeth Naurath (University of Augsburg)
📅 21. January 2027
🕖 16:15-17:45
The Body, the Bible and the Political Message
Young men on a digital mission
PD Dr. theol. Martin Fritz (Protestant Central Office for Worldview Issues) @pfrdrfritz
A new form of religious public discourse has emerged on social media from the combination of lifestyle content, the proclamation of faith and political engagement: ‘Christfluencing’. Men present themselves differently from women in this context. The lecture will explore topics and forms of self-presentation typical of men. The focus will be on how conservative young men interlink self-presentation, religious messaging, values and political activism, and what role they play in the digital culture war.
Moderator: Prof. Dr Georg Langenhorst (University of Augsburg)
📅 28. January 2027
🕖 16:15-17:45
Sinnfluencing
Religion on social media
Dr. Stefanie Schardien (EKD) @steffi_schardien
If the spirit is free to blow wherever it will, it should not stop at digital spaces either. But this raises the question: are prayer apps and ‘meaning influencers’ networks changing the way we engage with matters of faith and spirituality?
Moderator: Lena Schützle (Munich School of Philosophy)
You can find information about past lecture series on our website and some of the lectures in full on our YouTube channel.