A “deep-seated dissatisfaction” with online worship during the Covid-19 pandemic has been identified by new research published this week.
The key finding of the report British Ritual Innovation under Covid-19, the result of a year-long joint project by the University of Chester and Manchester Metropolitan University, is that, “by almost every metric, the experience of pandemic rituals have been worse than those that came before them. They are perceived as less meaningful, less communal, less spiritual, less effective, and so on.”
The report, published on Wednesday, concludes: “Our research has revealed both considerable innovation in, and deep-seated dissatisfaction with, digital worship during the pandemic. There have been important positive developments and adaptations which will strengthen British religious life in the long term, but for most people, the move to online ritual has been one of loss, not gain.
“Rituals — regular weekly worship, funerals, baptisms, festival celebrations, and the like — have been exceptionally difficult for most participants and leaders during the pandemic.”
“Our research has revealed both considerable innovation in, and deep-seated dissatisfaction with, digital worship during the pandemic." https://t.co/LC0ecTK6PY
— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) September 29, 2021