A Study On The Religious Functions Of Muslim Local Virtual Community

The quickening urbanization process has transformed the traditional "living around the mosque" pattern of Muslim urban community.Muslims are dispersed around the city,and an "authentic" Muslim community does not exist any more.In this process,what change and challenge the Muslim religious faith face?And how the dispersed Muslims in the city keep connected with each other?To answer the questions,based on a two years participatory filed work and the systematic primary resources via questionnaires about 9007777 Kunming Muslim Community,which is the largest virtual community in Kunming,this paper aims to analyze the appearance,development,organization and mechanism of local virtual community as a new pattern of community.Its religious nature and function is explored as well.More over,the paper also tries to reveal how the urban Muslims subjectively adapt the pain of dismissed traditional community,apathetic faith and individual mental stress,due to urbanization process.This study figures out that 9007777 Kunming Muslim Community is the outcome of Muslims' agency and adaptation.By using internet and geographic space to gather the people with same faith,it strengthens the members' awareness of identity and the intimacy of each other;reinforces the collective cohesion and union,and significantly contributes to social stability.