Digital-Era Spirituality

Opportunities, Challenges, and Faith Contextualization

  • Ridwan Henry Simamora Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Transformasi Indonesia Manado, Indonesia
  • Eliasar Lekitonu Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Transformasi Indonesia Manado, Indonesia
  • Deiby Betsy Najoan Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Transformasi Indonesia Manado, Indonesia
Keywords: spirituality, digital era, social media, Christian faith formation

Abstract

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technology has transformed not only social and economic life but also the spiritual practices of contemporary society. This study examines the emergence of digital spirituality and its influence on Christians’ understanding and experience of faith in the digital era. Using a descriptive method with a library research approach, the study explores the opportunities and challenges of spirituality within digital contexts while highlighting technology’s role as a medium for spiritual formation. The findings indicate that social media functions not only as a tool for ministry but also as a theological and existential space that shapes how Christians understand, experience, and express their faith. Consequently, churches are encouraged to develop a contextual, critical, and transformative digital spirituality that enables technology to support discipleship, character formation, and the strengthening of Christian communities while maintaining the authenticity of faith in an increasingly digitalized world.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abbott, Kenneth Bordens and Bruce Barrington. Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach (10th Ed.). McGraw Hill eBook, 2017.

Bowman, Glen Alan, Blessing Osueke, and Samantha Baires. “Effects of Christian Faith Sharing Through Social Media: Examining Belief System Changes, Behavioral Changes, and User Preferences.” American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 7, no. 1 (2021): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.21694/2378-7031.21016.

Brubaker, Pamela Jo, and Michel M. Haigh. “The Religious Facebook Experience: Uses and Gratifications of Faith-Based Content.” Social Media and Society 3, no. 2 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305117703723.

Butarbutar, A. B. “Menstimulasi Pertumbuhan Gereja Di Era Digital: Sebuah Adaptasi Pelayanan Dalam Konteks Posmodern.” THRONOS Jurnal Teologi Kristen 5, no. 2 (2024): 236–44.

Campbell, H. A. The Distanced Church Reflections on Doing Church Online Digital Religion Publications, 2020.

Chandler, D. J. Christian Spiritual Formation: An Integrated Approach for Personal And. Lisle: InterVarsity Press, 2014.

Chen, Rongyi, Ziyan Xin, Qing Xiao, Ruiwei Xiao, Jingjia Xiao, Bingbing Zhang, Hong Shen, and Zhicong Lu. “The Digital Landscape of God: Narrative, Visuals and Viewer Engagement of Religious Videos on YouTube,” no. Icwsm (2025). http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.10957.

Cloete, Anita L. “Living in a Digital Culture.” The Ecumenical Review 72, no. 2 (April 2020): 255–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/erev.12511.

David B. Perrin. Studying Christian Spirituality. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2024. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003340355.

Dyikuk, Justine John. “Christianity and the Digital Age: Sustaining the Online Church.” International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication 3, no. 1 (2017): 43–49. www.premierpublishers.org.

Gaspersz, Vincent. “Kristus Di Era Digital : Menjembatani Teologi Dan Teknologi Dalam Masyarakat 5 . 0.” VoxVeritatisJurnalTeologidanPendidikanAgamaKristen, 2023, 110.

Giulia Isetti, Elisa Innerhofer, H. P. and M. de R. Religion in the Age of Digitalization From New Media to Spiritual Machines. London: Routledge, 2022.

Grümme, Bernhard. “Spirituality and Digitality.” Teocomunicação 53, no. 1 (2023): e44027. https://doi.org/10.15448/0103-314x.2023.1.44027.

Hondro, Menas Misahati, Etni Grace Andi Yusuf. “Penyampaian Khotbah Melalui Media Live Streaming Sebagai Upaya Membangun Spiritualitas Di Era Digital.” Philoxenia: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pendidikan Kristian 3, no. 1 (2024): 54–65.

Howard, E. B. “Christian Spirituality.” In Spirituality: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury Academic, 2014. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472594532.ch-006.

Keriapy, Frets, Yoel Giban, T. G. “Spiritualitas Dalam Ruang Cyber (Cyberspace): Makhluk Digitalis Sekaligus Spiritualis.” Tumou Tou 122–13, no. 9 (2022): 2.

Leobisa, Jonathan, Soleman Baun, Yorhans S. Lopis, and Yakobus Adi Saingo. “Tantangan Penggunaan Media Sosial Di Era Disrupsi Dan Peran Pendidikan Etika Kristen.” Aletheia Christian Educators Journal 4, no. 1 (2023): 38–48. https://doi.org/10.9744/aletheia.4.1.38-48.

Lewis, Bex. “Social Media, Peer Surveillance, Spiritual Formation, and Mission: Practising Christian Faith in a Surveilled Public Space.” Surveillance and Society 16, no. 4 (2018): 517–32. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v16i4.7650.

Lytle, Julie Anne. Faith Formation 4.0: Introducing an Ecology of Faith in a Digital Age. New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2013.

McClure, Paul K. “Faith and Facebook in a Pluralistic Age.” Sociological Perspectives 59, no. 4 (December 2016): 818–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731121416647361.

Niekerk, Brimadevi van. “Religion and Spirituality: What Are the Fundamental Differences?” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74, no. 3 (2018): 1–11.

Paloutzian, Raymond F, Crystal L. Park. Handbook of The Psychology of Religion And Spirituality. New York: The Guilford Press, 2013.

Pandiangan, Jonathan Christoper dan Karel Martinus Siahaya. “Pembinaan Iman Dan Optimalisasi Media Digital: Sebuah Upaya Meningkatkan Gairah Beribadah.” Efata: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pelayanan 11, no. 1 (2024): 54–63.

Radford, Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Marie L. Research Methods in Library and Information Science (7th Ed.). Devon: Libraries Unlimited, 2021.

Rahayu, Yohana Fajar, and Harlin Yasin. “Etika Kristen Dalam Platform Digital : Upaya Meningkatkan Moralitas Dan Karakter Kristiani Pendahuluan” 8, no. 1 (2024): 36–44.

Romika, Samuel Siringo Ringo, Ruth Marietta Sianturi, Jacob Messakh, Kinayati Djojosuroto, Maniar Arnida Samosir, Juandi Sakaro Situmorang, Remegises Danial Yohanis Pandie, D. K. PENDIDIKAN AGAMA KRISTEN DI ERA DIGITAL (S. S. R. Romika (Ed.); 1st Ed.). Bojong: Widinia Media Utama, 2025.

Saingo, Yakobus Adi. “Menggagas Gaya Hidup Digital Umat Kristiani Di Era Society 5.0.” CHARISTHEO: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen 3, no. 1 (September 2023): 101–15. https://doi.org/10.54592/jct.v3i1.139.

Schneiders, Sandra M. “Biblical Spirituality.” Interpretation (United Kingdom) 70, no. 4 (2016): 417–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020964316655108.

Soukup, P. A., Amaro, A., Garner, S., & Amaro, A. “Social Media and Faith Formation.” Communication Research Trends 38, no. 4 (2019): 3–6.

Stephen Garner. “Imaging Christ in Digital Worlds: Continuity and Discontinuity in Discipleship.” Communication Research Trends 38, no. 4 (2019): 21–30.

Suarga, Barnabas Bram. “Pengaruh Kultur Digital Dalam Hidup Beriman Kristiani: Membangun Langkah Pastoral Yang Relevan.” HARVESTER: Jurnal Teologi Dan Kepemimpinan Kristen 6, no. 2 (2021): 160–96. https://doi.org/10.52104/harvester.v6i2.74.

Sugiyono. Metode Penelitian Kualitatif Dan R&D. Bandung: Alfabeta, 2013.

Tando, Fira, and Heni Kartini Tallu Tondok. “Tinjauan Teologis: Digitalisasi Dan Transformasi Spiritualitas Kristen” 2, no. 12 (2024): 1227–39.

Wijaya, Hengki, Richard Everson Bill Sumigar, Aldorio Flavius Lele, and Hanny Frederik. Virtual Worship and Spiritual Growth in Digital Church Era. Vol. 2022. Atlantis Press SARL, 2023. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-160-9_36.

Published
2026-07-02
How to Cite
Simamora, R. H., Lekitonu, E., & Najoan, D. B. (2026). Digital-Era Spirituality. Te Deum (Jurnal Teologi Dan Pengembangan Pelayanan), 15(2). https://doi.org/10.51828/td.v15i2.475