Digital Media and Islamic Matchmaking in Indonesia: The Case of “Kelas Jodoh”

Abstract

The increase of religiosity in Indonesia, which has coincided with the development of digital media, has led to the emergence of various services that incorporate religious values, including in the areas of education and the facilitation of the marriage process. This study examines “Kelas Jodoh” (KJ) or “Matchmaking Class” as a case study to understand the role of digital media-supported Islamic matchmaking organizers within the context of existing Islamic matchmaking practices in Indonesia, particularly against the backdrop of rising personal piety and the use of digital media. It investigates how Islamic values governing pre-marital male-female relationships interact with the technological affordances of digital media, contributing to the evolution of digital religion. The study applies a qualitative case study method, with data collected through interviews with the KJ owner and manager, as well as with members (KJ’s participants). The findings indicate that KJ represents a fusion of increasing Islamic piety among urban Muslims and the growth of digital media, thus continuing to shape and expand the horizon of digital religion. The study also demonstrates how KJ’s use of digital tools and its mediator role reflect practices akin to those of modern Islamic movements such as the Tarbiyah group.

Keywords

• Digital Religion
• Islamic Matchmaking
• Kelas Jodoh
• Indonesia

Endonezya’da Dijital Medya ve İslami Evlilik Uygulamaları: “Kelas Jodoh” Örneği

Öz

Dindarlığın artışı, dijital medyanın gelişimiyle paralel olarak, dini değerleri içeren çeşitli hizmetlerin ortaya çıkmasına yol açmıştır; bunlar arasında eğitim ve evlilik sürecinin kolaylaştırılması da bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışma Endonezya’daki mevcut İslami tanışma uygulamaları bağlamında, dijital medya destekli İslami tanışma organizatörlerinin rolünü anlamak için “Kelas Jodoh” adlı siteyi bir durum çalışması olarak ele almakta ve özellikle dijital medya kullanımına bağlı olarak artış gösteren dindarlık tutumları ekseninde bu yapıyı analiz etmektedir. Çalışma, evlilik öncesi erkek-kadın ilişkilerini yöneten İslami değerlerin dijital medyanın teknolojik olanaklarıyla nasıl etkileşime girdiğini ve dijital dinin evrimine katkıda bulunduğunu araştırmaktadır. Çalışma, KJ'nin sahibi ve yöneticisi ile yapılan röportajlar ve üyelerle (KJ'nin katılımcıları) toplanan verilerle bir vaka çalışması yöntemi uygulamaktadır. Bulgular, KJ'nin kentsel Müslümanlar arasında artan dindarlık ve dijital medyanın büyümesinin bir birleşimini temsil ettiğini ve böylece dijital dinin şekillendirmeye ve genişletmeye devam ettiğini göstermektedir. Çalışma ayrıca, KJ'nin dijital araçları kullanma ve arabulucu rolünün Tarbiyah grubu gibi modern İslami hareketlerin uygulamalarına benzediğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dijital Din
• İslam Evliliği
• Kelas Jodoh
• Endonezya

Kaynakça

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