Twist in Perception: Spiritual Needs and Technology in the Times of COVID-19. A Qualitative Research Study in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic caused a significant change in how active members of Christian churches in the Czech Republic perceive and use technology to address their religious needs. Physical presence in worship, sacred spaces, and communities used to be almost the sole means of religious practice of Czech Christian believers before the pandemic. Technologically mediated services suddenly became the almost exclusive medium of content distribution (worships, readings, sermons, prayers), contact, and communication among believers. This study aims to understand the diversity of technology perception of Christian believers active in official Christian churches in the Czech Republic in their religious practice in respect of various technologically transmitted religious services before and during the covid-19 pandemic with potential impact on post-pandemic times. The qualitative research method of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 117 Czech Christian believers and 16 clergy representatives, all active in official Christian churches in the Czech Republic, and data gathering method (3 age cohorts in data collection team, 6 churches, and 8 regions) aim to map in complexity the evolution of their perceptions. The research took place from March–April 2021. Research outcomes show the breadth of the perception of the technologically mediated religious services during the pandemic. Unexpected exposure to technologies made many Christian believers re-evaluate how they perceive the role and contribution of new technologies to their spiritual lives. The findings help predict changes in the use of technology in Czech Christian faith communities. Understanding the diversity of perceptions may help churches establish communication strategies that reflect the current needs of their believers.

Cultural and Theological Influences on Religious Engagement with Digital Media during COVID-19: A Comparative Study of Churches in Poland and Ireland

“…A review of the literature about the changes that religion underwent during the COVID-19 pandemic from various European countries, including Sweden (Liu 2021), Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Ganiel 2020), Italy (Ricucci and Bossi 2022), Spain (Sabaté Gauxachs et al 2021), the Czech Republic (Lipková and Jarolímková 2023), Germany (Schlag et al 2023), and Poland (Boguszewski 2022) and across various Christian and non-Christian religious traditions shows that discussions about the possibility of online church gatherings intensified. Some religious groups saw these government restrictions as a violation of religious freedom, while others considered the theological implications of participating in rituals (Chow and Kurlberg 2020).…”