Digital religion and evidence-based da'wah: mapping the religiosity typologies of Generation Z in banyumas

Abstract

The development of digital religion has transformed how Generation Z acquires religious knowledge, constructs religious identities, selects religious authorities, and validates da'wah messages. However, previous studies have often examined Generation Z's religiosity, digital da'wah, and religious information validity separately, while evidence-based da'wah remains insufficiently operationalized in relation to variations in audience responses. This study aims to develop an empirically grounded typology of Generation Z's religiosity in Banyumas by integrating digital religious experiences, cultural preferences, and religious information verification practices to inform the development of evidence-based da'wah strategies. A mixed-methods approach employing a concurrent embedded design was used, incorporating social media trend analysis, web scraping, in-depth interviews, participatory observation, focus group discussions, and documentation. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis, pattern matching, and explanation building, with triangulation used to enhance the credibility of the findings. The findings reveal that Generation Z's religiosity in Banyumas is characterized by a digital-hybrid orientation encompassing four typologies: digital-adaptive, reflective-therapeutic, integrative-contextual, and ethical-social. Rather than passively accepting religious messages, young people negotiate religious content through personal experiences, social needs, and local cultural values, including cablaka (frankness and openness), harmony, and egalitarianism. The study concludes that Generation Z's digital religiosity emerges from the interaction between digital personalization, individual agency, and local cultural frameworks, highlighting the importance of understanding religious engagement as a dynamic and context-dependent process. Theoretically, the findings extend the perspectives of Digital Religion and Liquid Religiosity by demonstrating how digital practices and local cultural filters jointly shape contemporary religious engagement, while reinforcing the relevance of the Integration–Interconnection paradigm. In practical terms, the study provides an empirical foundation for developing evidence-based da'wah that is data-informed, digitally adaptive, culturally contextualized, and oriented toward religious information verification. Its findings can inform issue mapping, digital religious literacy initiatives, and collaborative interventions involving preachers, academics, government institutions, local communities, and digital content creators to promote more relevant, credible, and responsive religious communication.