Since the rise of the Internet in
China (2000), the intersection of “Internet” and “religion” has become
increasingly intricate, presenting a multifaceted and complex landscape. In
response to this, the political, academic, and religious sectors have actively
engaged in the study of “Internet religion”, spurring significant developments
in this field. Visualization analysis based on bibliometrics offers a
comprehensive reflection of the overall landscape and evolutionary trends in
the research on “Internet religion” in China. This paper analyzes 196 CSSCl
(including the extended edition) articles from the CNKl academic journal
database, covering the period from 2000 to 2023. Using a combination of
CiteSpace visualization software, descriptive statistical analysis, and a close
reading of the literature, it conducts a multidimensional examination of
aspects such as research volume, scholarly contributions, and key themes. The study
aims to clarify the development trajectory of “Internet religion” research in
China and presents suggestions for future directions. The findings reveal that
the research on “Internet religion” in China has undergone a progression from the
study of traditional phenomena to theoretical paradigm shifts and, subsequently,
to practical applications in governance. The research focuses on three core
themes: “concepts and paradigms of Internet religion”, “phenomena and
fundamental issues of Internet religion”, and “real-world challenges and
governance of Internet religion”. This body of research can be divided into
four stages: the “initial exploration of Internet ‘religious communication’,
with sporadic and fragmented themes” (2000-2010), the “shift from phenomena to
governance, expanding into a comprehensive research focus” (2011-2016), the “emergence
of diverse and digital themes” (2017-2019), and the “collaborative development
of the three sectors, leading to systematic research” (2020-2023). The study
identifies key challenges moving forward, including overcoming the “stacking effect”,
the construction of an autonomous knowledge system, the cultivation of
interdisciplinary talent, and the empowerment of governance through big data.
