Original Research
Religious confusion and emptiness: Evaluating the impact of online Islamic learning among Indonesian Muslim adolescents
Submitted: 10 October 2023 | Published: 09 May 2024
About the author(s)
Shodiq Abdullah, Department of Islamic Religious Education, Faculty of Islamic Education and Teacher Training, Walisongo State Islamic University, Semarang, IndonesiaMufid Mufid, Department of Islamic Religious Education, Faculty of Islamic Education and Teacher Training, Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic University Jepara, Jepara, Indonesia
Ju’subaidi Ju’subaidi, Department of Islamic Religious Education, Faculty of Islamic Education and Teacher Training, Ponorogo State Islamic Institute, Ponorogo, Indonesia
Purwanto Purwanto, Department of Islamic Studies, Syubbanul Wathon Islamic College, Magelang, Indonesia
Abstract
Internet-based religious learning has presented a new face to the diversity of Muslim youth. This article aims to analyse and evaluate Muslim youth’s understanding, attitudes, and religious practices and demonstrate the impact of internet-based Islamic learning. As many as 23 Muslim youths in Jepara, Central Java, aged 17–20 years, became the informants of this study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations. Further research data were analysed descriptively and interpretatively. This study found that most Muslim youths who studied Islam online experienced confusion and emptiness in religion caused by an incomplete learning process. Most Muslim youths do not have solid theological views, pseudo-worship practices and weak religious ideologies. This study suggests that teenagers acquire essential Islamic knowledge from credible sources such as kyai with clear scientific credentials. This foundation enables them to discern reliable Islamic content in cyberspace, safeguarding against distortions in their understanding of Islam and spirituality.
Contribution: This research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the impact of internet-based learning on the diverse experiences of Muslim youth. Although the internet has the potential to be an invaluable source of knowledge, the challenges of integrating information with traditional understanding require serious attention.
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goal
Metrics
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