While there has been much discussion at The Immanent Frame on the merits and relevance of certain analytical categories for the sociological study of religion, especially “civil religion,” there has not been as much talk of what may be called “technological religion.” Andy Jordan of the the Digits blog at the Wall Street Journal has just authored a post and produced a short video on Apple’s status as a “religion for the creative class,” in the wake of this weekend’s long-anticipated release of the iPad. He suggests that at the root of the religiosity of the Apple fans is an underdog status (unwittingly bearing some resemblance to Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity) and Apple founder Steve Jobs’ nearly messianic status.

Apple’s core following has traditionally been the creative class. They are graphic designers and artists, and they constitute a “church” of sorts.

“When you find other Mac users, they’re so happy to find other people, it’s like the underdog,” says Peter Isgrigg, Product Manager at Apple specialist Tekserve in Manhattan, and self-proclaimed Mac fanatic [….]

Read the full post here.