Panel: DIGITAL RELIGION IN AN (IN)EQUAL WORLD: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS



845_2.5 - LIVED RELIGION IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS: EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY IN THE CZECHIA AND SLOVAKIA

AUTHORS:
Sedláková R. (University Palacký, Faculty of Theology ~ Olomouc ~ Czech Republic) , Roncáková T. (Catholic University in Ružomberok ~ Ružomberok ~ Slovakia)
Text:
This paper examines transformations of religiosity in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the context of the ongoing platformization and digitalization of religion. Drawing on the field of digital religion based on the work of H. Campbell, R. Tsuria, or G. Evolvi, and the perspective of lived religion, the study explores how spiritual practices are articulated and experienced in everyday life within digital media environments. Digital platforms appear to function as spaces where elements of lived religion are articulated, negotiated, and shared beyond traditional institutional settings. The study asks: How does the digitalization of religion shape everyday forms of spirituality in societies with historically different levels of religiosity, and what role do digital platforms play in developing new forms of religious social praxes? The two countries that formed a commonwealth in the second half of the 20th century were characterized by significantly different levels of declared religiosity. While the Czech Republic is often described as one of the most secular societies in Europe, Slovakia maintains significantly higher levels of religious identification. However, data from a quantitative online survey conducted in the fall of 2025 among internet users (15-75 years old) in both countries indicate several similar trends in how spirituality is currently experienced in both populations. The research focuses on everyday forms of spirituality, such as personal prayer or reading spiritual texts, as well as individual attitudes toward religion. The study examines respondents' participation in online religious communities and the spiritual experiences associated with such engagement. The findings indicate that despite differences in official statistics on institutional religiosity, several aspects of everyday spirituality and personal religious attitudes show similarities in both populations, e.g. the high level of alternative spirituality.