@article {2144,
	title = {Online Ultra-Orthodox Religious Communities as a Third Space: A Netnographic Study},
	journal = {International Journal of Communication },
	volume = {11},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {This research applies a netnographic approach to explore the extent to which online communities function as a third space that supports a networked religion. Five months of observation at a leading online ultra-Orthodox Jewish forum revealed four chief characteristics: religious{\textendash}secular discussion{\textemdash}the forum served as a platform for religious discourse as well as a sphere for discussing a wide range of subjects unrelated to religion; identity game{\textemdash}members constantly played two types of identity games: personal and group; intense activity{\textemdash}the forum was characterized by rather intense activity patterns; and a unique religious expressiveness{\textemdash}this was reflected in textual and visual representations and exhibited in online debates. Findings indicate that the forum offers its members a third space of digital religion that is hybrid in any possible sense and reinforces a lively networked religion. While it aims at enabling serious discussion of religious matters, it also serves members as a social sphere in which they can communicate about extrareligious issues; express their personalities, skills and opinions; and even play with their anonymous peers.},
	keywords = {Judaism, netnography, networked religion, online communities, Spirituality, third space, ultra-Orthodox},
	url = {http://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/6515},
	author = {Okun, S and Nimrod, G}
}
