This is the Internet forum of the Research Network on Information, Communication and Spirituality (ICS-Net for short). The network is aimed at researchers and students in any discipline who are interested in information and spirituality OR communication and spirituality (or both). The purposes of ICS-Net are to advance research in its domain, and to bring together pertinent scholars from different branches of science. Here are some ways in which the network can be used:

- finding collaborators
- forming projects
- acquiring funding
- keeping up-to-date
- sharing information
- getting help
- obtaining feedback
- influencing research
- educating oneself
- locating literature and empirical data
- etc.

The rationale behind lumping information and communication together is the fact that they are so intertwined, both as concepts and as phenomena. They both involve transferring representations and constructing meanings. Perhaps the biggest difference is that information mainly refers to content, whereas communication mainly refers to process (this is, of course, a simplified view of the relationship). The spiritual, on the other hand, can refer to several different things - anything from meaning in life to the (alleged) world of spirits. Besides religion, concepts related to spirituality include consciousness, higher things in life, magic, mysticism, New Age, occult, paranormal, purpose in life, self-development, supernatural, superstition, etc.

In order to further its goals, ICS-Net organizes certain activities. Operating this discussion group (functions as an e-mail list, too) is the minimum modus operandi. When you apply to join the group, please tell us something about your scientific background. If we do not know anything about you, we cannot accept you as a member. Web pages, meetings, and publications are among other possibilities that can be considered.

NOTE: The advertisements that Yahoo! has added to these pages have nothing to do with ICS-Net.