Erica Baffelli

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Erica Baffelli is a leading scholar of Japanese religions, with a particular focus on the intersection of religion, media, and technology. Her work explores how new religious movements and established traditions adapt to and are shaped by modern media environments, from print and television to the internet and robotics. Her most cited paper, "The Android and the Fax: Robots, AI and Buddhism in Japan" (2021, 8 citations), offers a groundbreaking analysis of the Kōdaiji temple’s android, Mindar, which is presented as a manifestation of the bodhisattva Kannon. This study examines how robotics and AI are being integrated into Buddhist practice, raising profound questions about embodiment, ritual, and the nature of compassion in a technological age. Baffelli’s broader contributions include extensive research on the Aum Shinrikyo affair, the role of the internet in religious communities, and the mediatization of religion in Japan. Her work is notable for its ethnographic depth and theoretical sophistication, making her a key voice in the study of religion and media. With over 100 citations across her publications, she has shaped how scholars understand the dynamic relationship between faith and innovation in contemporary Japan.