Joseph Laycock is an assistant professor of religious studies at Texas State University, where he researches New Religious Movements and American religious history.

Hussein Kesvani is the author of Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims. He is also the Europe editor of MEL Magazine and writes about technology and identity.

Ann Gleig is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, where she studies Asian religions and the intersection of religion, gender and sexuality. Her first book, American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity, includes an exploration of online Buddhist meditation communities.

The Rev. Jerold Garber is the founding minister of First United Church of Christ Second Life, the first virtual reality church to be given full standing by a mainline Protestant denomination.

The Rev. Jeff Eddings is the southeast region and coaching associate for 1,001 New Worshiping Communities, a Presbyterian initiative to launch innovative new churches. Previously, he helped found the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh.

Nabil Echchaibi is the associate director of the Center for Media, Religion and Culture at the University of Colorado Boulder. He studies Muslim identity politics, with an emphasis on how online activities affect organized religion.

Eric Burch helps lead the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Second Life, a virtual faith community for users of the video game Second Life.

The Rev. Peter Goodwin Heltzel is an associate professor of systematic theology at New York Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and serves on the denomination’s Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team for the northeastern region.

The Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove is an author, preacher and religious activist. He is the co-founder of Rutba House, an intentional community in Durham, North Carolina, aimed at breaking down divides between the homeless community and other residents. He serves as assistant director for partnerships and fellowships at Yale University’s Center for Public Theology and Public […]