»Less noise, more conversation«

The RefLab as a model for public Christianity in social media

Abstract

»Less noise, more conversation« is the motto of RefLab. Established by the Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich in early 2020, the explicit mission of this media laboratory is the experimental development of new forms and formats of Christian communication. The target audience comprises individuals interested in spirituality, religion, and existential inquiries but who maintain a relative distance from conventional church environments. The Zurich laboratory's work is rooted in the post-secular condition.

Using the Reformed Laboratory as a case study, this presentation aims to illustrate: how lab principles (cross-disciplinary, creative turbulence, rapid prototyping) can be effectively applied in innovative church practices; the opportunities and risks arising from the shift of Christian communication and community building into the realm of social media; and the extent to which network-oriented work in a lab setting differs from the model of religious influencer culture (»Sinnfluencer«).