Why Studies of Media, Religion, and Culture Need to Pay More Attention to Religious Metaphors and Misinformation

This article serves as a foreword to the International Society on Media, Religion and Culture’s ( ismrc ) special issue on Metaphors and Misinformation, highlighting themes and research featured at the 2023 ismrc conference in Bochum, Germany. Specifically, this article offers a personal reflection by the then-president of ismrc on the growth and development of the study of Media, Religion, and Culture ( mrc ). It also highlights the importance of mrc scholars engaging in the study of misinformation and disinformation about religion and religious groups, especially at this current historical moment.