Mediatization of Religion and Religious Mediatization during and post the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Rise of Electronic Pulpits and Digital Congregations

Abstract

Could the pandemic have been a catalyst for religious mediatization? This research article examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the relationship between media and religion. It is arguable that the influence of the secular media on religious issues largely contributed to the mediatization of religion being a vanguard of religious mediatization. This would be explained by the understanding of the commodification of the media space, with the opportunity to reach more people only available to the highest bidder, said differently, the capture of secular media by a few charismatic and renowned televangelists. As a result, more religious formations established television and radio stations and YouTube/Meta channels (Facebook & Instagram) to broadcast to their audiences as a protest against mainstream secular media. The paper queries whether the hunger among audiences might have led to the exponential rise of many electronic pulpits and digital congregations. This research article used the mediatization theory to explain the intricate relationship between religion and the media and to examine literature from other jurisdictions. Data was gathered from the CITAM Church Online platform and from the church AGM analytics on the platform's reach and impact.