Theodor Adorno's Negative Dialectics in Digital Theology: The Visceral Narratology of Metaphor and Personification.

The article examines how Theodor Adorno’s concept of negative dialectics informs the aesthetic and didactic qualities of digital theological media, focusing on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ short film *The Will of God*. It argues that the Church’s digital productions employ open-ended narratives and visceral metaphors—such as the personified currant bush—to resist simplistic, comforting conclusions typical of mass culture, instead transferring an individualized ethical charge to viewers. This approach foregrounds authentic suffering and invites personal reflection and action, aligning with Adorno’s critique of the culture industry’s tendency to numb individuality through representational conformity. The study situates these digital religious narratives within a broader historical and philosophical context, highlighting their role in fostering existential engagement and ethical responsibility in an increasingly individualized digital media landscape.