Il digitale come cura. Il contributo del fattore religioso nelle guarigioni ‘a distanza’.

The experience of faith lived online represents an alternative to traditional paths of religious freedom. In some cases, digital technology becomes an intermediary between the faithful and the transcendent; in others, the web embodies the “divine”, that is, the interlocutor or an interface for dialogue where the religious experience of the faithful can take place. In some cases, this dimension can also be chosen by the faithful as a means of healing. This perspective is shared by more structured religious orders, such as the Catholic Church, where the faithful can also access digital forms of spiritual assistance (anointing of the sick, exorcisms, prayers of deliverance, blessings), and by other movements that promote the ministry of healing through the web. For example, Christian Science believes in the benefits of divine healing power exercised within healing rooms; for cyber-shamanism, virtual space is inhabited by a spiritual presence that allows the user to enter a trance state; according to the religious practice of distant healing, the sick person is reached by digital healing energy. The analysis of these phenomena aims to investigate the actual relationship between online worship and the healing of the faithful, the possible legal protections that religious groups involved in such practices may receive under Italian law, and the legislative and jurisprudential response to the phenomenon of false healings aimed at defrauding Internet users.