Read a January 24, 2013 article from CNET about Pope Benedict XVI’s influence on social media in the religious sphere.

Read a Dec. 11, 2012 from The Washington Post about the Pope’s use of social media and it’s greater significance to the social media world.

Read a March 28. 2013 article from Arizona State professor Pauline Cheong about the ways in which religious organizations use social and digital media.

Read a August 7, 2012 article from Christianity Today about the way certain religious groups use social media.

Read a March 9, 2013 article about the prevalence of religious figures on Twitter.

The Rev. Fumiaki Usuki is the temple minister of the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple, which has a Facebook page.

Kerry Shook is pastor of Woodlands Church in Houston, where members are encouraged to tweet during sermons.

Jason Ingram is pastor of Highland Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., which has a MyChurch.org page. Ingram also has a personal Facebook page he invites everyone to visit.

John Voelz is pastor of Westwinds Community Church in Jackson, Mich. The church has its own social network, called Community W. Congregants are encouraged to tweet about sermons, and a Twitter feed is posted on the church’s website. Voelz also writes a blog popular with church members.