ABSTRACT
As a fruit of human society, religion is inevitably transformed by the influence of society and by historical processes that it encounters. As such, religion needs to adapt to its historical circumstances. It is not possible even for traditional religions with histories over 2,000 years long to exist without adjusting to historical circumstances or by parting with the society in which they operate. On the contrary, only religions that have a good long-term relationship with the society can continue to exist as traditional religions (Wilson 1982: 149–166). In such terms, religions need to pay attention to the media—and to media-related, (i.e., printing and broadcasting) skills as well as to the changing patterns of the mass media—that help connect them to mass society. For example, beautifully coloured pamphlets and TV programmes are good examples of recent media-related innovations that serve as useful missionary tools through which religious organizations can spread their religious beliefs to the wider world and to connect with their followers.
