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- Convenor:
-
Kerstin Radde-Antweiler
(University of Bremen)
Send message to Convenor
- Discussants:
-
Mathieu Colin
(University of Montreal)
Hannah Grunenthal (University of Bremen)
Katarzyna Rabiej-Sienicka (University of Warsaw)
Dorota Hall (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences)
Caoimhe Ni Dhonaill (Queen's University)
- Format:
- Panel
- Location:
- Gamma room
- Sessions:
- Tuesday 5 September, -
Time zone: Europe/Vilnius
Short Abstract:
This panel explores relationships between religions and technologies, including how religious institutions and groups in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and Poland conceptualized and operationalized the use of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Long Abstract:
This panel explores relationships between religions and technologies in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on initial findings from the Trans-Atlantic Platform-funded project 'The Changing Role of Religion in Societies Emerging from COVID-19', it analyses documents produced by multiple religious organizations (two majority religions and two minority religions) in these contexts between March 2020-February 2023; as well as articles in religiously-orientated media and in mainstream news outlets. The documents of religious organizations are analysed with a view to understanding how key religious actors discursively framed what in most cases were rapid and large-scale transitions to digital religious practices when public gatherings were prohibited. Researchers developed common themes across the four contexts and used qualitative data analysis software to conduct the analysis. The analysis includes consideration of the digital tools and platforms used; descriptions of virtual religious rituals and practices (which were often 'new'); how digital media affected religious authority and community; how religious actors framed the impact of digital media on society in general; how digital media impacted the organization of religious life; and attitudes towards digital technology (positive, negative, ambivalent, enthusiastic, pragmatic, etc.). The articles in religiously-orientated media and mainstream news outlets are subjected to text-mining analysis using key terms related to digital religion. This allows analysis of how different types of media in each context reported on religions and technologies, reflecting and shaping public discourses.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Tuesday 5 September, 2023, -Paper short abstract:
This paper presents findings about religion and technology during COVID-19 based on analyses of documents produced by religious institutions and in the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland; as well as articles in religiously-orientated media and in mainstream news outlets.
Paper long abstract:
This paper presents findings about religion and technology during COVID-19 based on analyses of documents produced by religious institutions and groups on the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland); as well as articles in religiously-orientated media and in mainstream news outlets. It includes analysis of documents produced by the Catholic Church (including the Irish Bishops Conference, the Diocese of Down and Connor, the Diocese of Derry, the Diocese of Limerick, and the Archdiocese of Dublin); the Protestant churches (including the Irish Council of Churches, the [Anglican] Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, and the Methodist Church); Islamic groups, and the Humanist Association of Ireland/Northern Ireland Humanists. It also presents findings from the Irish Catholic (a religiously-orientated weekly) and secular outlets in the Republic (Irish Times, Irish Independent, Journal.ie) and Northern Ireland (Irish News, News Letter). It presents key insights from Ireland based on the common themes developed across the projects, noting distinctives of the Irish and Northern Irish cases.
Paper short abstract:
This paper discusses the relationship between religion, policymakers, and digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland within three religious organizations, based on the analyses of official church documents, religious media, and secular media outlets.
Paper long abstract:
This paper presents findings about the relationship between religion, policymakers, and digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Based in the concept of mediatization, the paper analyses documents produced by three religious institutions in Poland (statements, official guidelines, etc.), as well as articles in religiously-orientated media (i.e. media produced by the institutions, including leading press titles) and in mainstream nationwide news outlets (including "Gazeta Wyborcza"). The analyzed religious institutions are the Roman Catholic Church, the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and the Jehovah's Witnesses. The analyses focus on how the institutions, in their official communications and in their media, reacted to the restrictions and safety measures during the pandemic (2020-2023), for instance by imposing new rules of religious gatherings and practices, resorting to digital innovations, as well as by presenting their standpoints on vaccines and social distancing, or more openly reflecting on the topics of illness and death. It will be shown that these reactions exist on the spectrum from supportive of the measures and open to changes to rejecting the restrictions and opposing adjustments. It will also be shown how different degrees of implementation of digital innovations within the organizations during the pandemic may have affected how these institutions function. The paper will also reflect on the common themes developed across the projects, noting the distinctiveness of the Polish cases.
Paper short abstract:
The paper explores german religious organisations' discourses around digitalization in times of corona. Against the background of the similarities and common themes and topics in the four countries, the specifics of the german case are outlined and discussed.
Paper long abstract:
The strict and sudden restrictions that came with the Corona pandemic in 2020 forced religious organizations in Germany to take position: Representatives of all religious organizations tried to find an answer to the question of how to maintain religious practice in times of the Pandemic - and, therefore, faced the question of digitalization of religion. By taking the example of two majority religious organizations (the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church) and two religious minorities (Muslim Communities and the Anthroposophical Society) in Germany, we analyze how religious organizations dealt with digitalization regarding their religious practice as well as in their internal and external communication. We analyze the organizations’ discourses about digitalization and mediatization of religion as well as their attitude towards media and media usage in the religious context over the course of the first three years of the pandemic. The analysis of the organization’s press releases, statements, and guidelines will be complemented by media press articles from religious as well as secular newspapers and such set into the wider societal context. By contrasting the four religious organizations, different aspects will be compared: How did religious majorities act compared to religious minorities? How did pre-pandemic attitudes towards digital media show in discourses about digitalization? Which topics and themes were discussed and by whom? Which arguments and narratives were adopted, which ones were dropped and how did the narratives change over time? How did the organizations react to wider societal discourses around digitalization and "the virtual"? And, finally, which hopes and expectations were raised and how did they unfold on the society’s way to “post-pandemic times”?
Paper short abstract:
Drawing on preliminary findings of the analysis of internal religious documents, religious and secular media in Canada, this paper explores the dynamic undergone by four religious groups at national and provincial levels during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paper long abstract:
Drawing on preliminary findings of the analysis of internal religious documents, religious and secular media in Canada, this paper explores the dynamic undergone by four religious groups at national and provincial levels (Catholics – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and Assemblies of bishops; Protestants – Anglican Church, United Church and several evangelical groups; Muslims; Jews and interreligious initiatives like the Interreligious Roundtable or the Canadian Council of Churches) during the pandemic. Their view of technology and its use, the interaction between practice and community at a virtual level, the evolution of religious concepts through the lens of digital tools and media reflect the way the pandemic has transformed how religion is lived and done, both for religious authorities and believers. We will also consider the way secular media have framed the issue of religion and Covid-19 to put these findings into perspective. It presents key insights and directions on future research planned by the international team and specificities of the Canadian context.