The Dynamics of the Level of Religiosity in Iranian Society in National Scientific Discourse

In the context of accelerating sociocultural transformations, the growing penetration of digital technologies into everyday life, and the intensification of global information exchange the religious identity of contemporary Iranian society is undergoing complex and multidirectional change. Against this background, studying the dynamics of religiosity becomes not only relevant but essential for understanding broader processes of social consolidation, political legitimacy, and cultural continuity. Religiosity in Iran continues to function as a key component of collective identity, yet its internal structure, forms of expression, and mechanisms of transmission are transforming at an unprecedented pace. The main goal of the study is to identify the dominant trends in the changing levels and forms of religiosity among different social groups, with particular emphasis on the younger generation, which is most sensitive to global cultural influences and technological innovations. To achieve this goal, the research addressed several key tasks: 1) systematizing Iranian academic publications on religiosity over the specified period; 2) identifying conceptual models and methodological approaches used to measure religiosity; 3) determining major trends in the evolution of religiosity among various demographic and social categories; 4) analyzing the impact of digitalization, social networks, and online communication on the transformation of religious identity; 5) revealing dominant interpretative frameworks and future projections formulated by Iranian researchers. The study materials consisted of a corpus of 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications by Iranian scholars indexed in SID, Magiran, Noor, IranDoc, supplemented by foreign publications that provide comparative insights and methodological clarification. The primary research method used was a systematic review, which included targeted search, source selection, thematic coding, comparative examination, and secondary interpretation of scientific literature in both Farsi and English. This approach made it possible to reconstruct the main trajectories of academic discourse and identify stable patterns in the empirical data. The results of the study demonstrate that traditional forms of religiosity in Iran are gradually declining, while individualized and experience-based models of faith are gaining prominence. This trend is especially evident among youth, who increasingly distance themselves from institutional religious authorities and prefer more flexible, personalized modes of spirituality. Digital media plays a decisive role in this transformation by reshaping access to religious knowledge, diversifying channels of interpretation, and fostering alternative forms of community building. The conclusions of the study are as follows: 1) Iranian scientific discourse consistently records a shift from collective, traditional religiosity to more individualized and pluralistic forms; 2) researchers employ one of six major models for measuring religiosity, which reflects both the multidimensional nature of the phenomenon and its cultural specificity; 3) the most significant changes occur among young people, who demonstrate weakening institutional affiliation and increased value placed on personal religious experience; 4) digital platforms now act as key drivers of transformation in religious practices and identity formation; 5) Iranian scholarship outlines several future scenarios — ranging from the integration of religion into digital environments to the potential deepening of secularization.

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