Why is representation of an identity in an institution important to those who share that identity?

    In his article “‘“Get on the Internet! Says the LORD’: Religion, Cyberspace and Christianity in Contemporary Africa,” author J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu compares the use of the internet by African Pentecostal/charismatic churches to the use of the internet by traditional Christian churches. According to Asamoah-Gyadu, one of the primary differences between how these newer and older religions in Africa use the internet is based on the nature of their evangelicalism. This is to say that the newer Pentecostal/charismatic churches see the internet as a potential means of converting people and use more interactive websites, while older, more traditional Christian churches use their internet pages more like news feeds. The article argues that the internet is transforming religion by allowing people to participate across vast distances and stay connected with fellow members, while also providing a novel avenue for evangelism and conversion.

Representation of an identity in an institution is important to the people who share that identity for a few reasons. First, representation in political institutions allows identity groups to have their voices heard, which may result in material benefits for the group or the achievement of civil rights, for example. Groups that are underrepresented or lack any representation are likely to be ignored, and thus prevented from attaining constitutional privileges or access to equal opportunities. A second reason why people seek to have their identity represented in institutions concerns the topic of validation. Members of the same identity group want to know that others share common life experiences, advantages, disadvantages, realities, and hardships that are based on their identity. The incorporation of such an identity into an institution validates its existence, and acknowledges the experiences that often correlate to the identity. A lack of representation means a lack of visibility, which in turn can mean a lack of recognition for a group and the things they experience due to their identity-based characteristics or associations. Third, representation allows for a feeling of control and self-governance. It seems like if enough people share a salient identity that informs their life experience, and yet they are precluded from participation in prominent political and social institutions, they would lack any control over their own lives. Self-governance or the perception of influence is critical to ensuring that members of an identity group feel safe to present their identity. In this way, representation is not only beneficial at a group level, but also at an individual level.

I thought the article was a unique and engaging piece. The internet continues to modify the way we live our everyday lives, and its influence continues to grow. It makes sense then that religions, especially newer religions, would want to take advantage of new mediums to convert people or simply broadcast their message to a larger and more varied audience. These churches and their individual members are seeking to have the religious aspect of their identity represented on the internet in a social realm, with the intention of gaining recognition and power through increasing participation. It seems to me like organizations and identity-based groups must constantly evolve to maintain the representation they have, or to gain new representation and using new forms of media such as the internet can help achieve such goals.