Digital Literacy in Religious Education through the Use of Corpus Technologies for the Analysis of Sacred Texts

Abstract

The digital transformation of society highlights the need to reconsider the methodological foundations of religious education and the professional training of specialists in the spiritual sphere. The use of corpus technologies for analyzing sacred texts serves as an effective tool for developing digital literacy and deepening the understanding of religious knowledge.

The aim of the study is to provide a theoretical rationale for the potential development of digital literacy in religious education through the implementation of corpus technologies in the study of sacred texts. The paper examines the relationship between the level of digital competence among teachers and students of theological institutions and the effectiveness of digital tools in the study of theological disciplines.

Methods. The methodological framework combines competency-based, cultural, and information-communication approaches. The study employs methods of content analysis, comparative analysis of digital educational practices, and corpus linguistics tools for modeling algorithms used in processing religious texts. Traditional approaches to studying sacred texts are compared with digital analysis formats, including corpus-based studies of the Bible, the Quran, and other sacred sources.

Results. The integration of corpus technologies into religious education fosters critical thinking, analytical culture, and informational autonomy among learners. It was found that digital literacy in the context of spiritual education has a dual nature – technological and cognitive-spiritual – since it combines the ability to work with digital data and the skill to interpret the results of automated analysis within theological discourse. Based on the research findings, a model of digital literacy for teachers of religious disciplines was developed, encompassing competencies in critical analysis, interpretation of corpus data, and pedagogical integration of digital resources into the educational process.

Conclusions. The digitalization of religious education requires a systematic approach to developing teachers’ digital competence and modernizing educational and methodological resources. A key condition for the effective implementation of digital strategies is the creation of open electronic corpora of sacred texts intended for both academic analysis and educational use.