Presentation Schedule
Sacred Spaces and Digital Platforms: Negotiating Authenticity in Malaysian Churches During the COVID-19 Lockdowns (101599)
Session Chair: Eiko Ohira
Saturday, 7 February 2026 10:50
Session: Session 1
Room: Tourmaline 209 (Level 2)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
The study and practice of digital religion received mainstream attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Malaysia, strict lockdown policies disrupted traditional Christian practices and compelled churches to move entirely online for an extended season. This transition raised questions about how church leaders and members would negotiate technology, worship, and community online, and whether authentic spirituality could take place in digital spaces. Over two phases of research, this study explored these questions through semi-structured interviews with church leaders in Malaysia, followed by a mixed-methods investigation involving surveys and interviews with lay-members. Together, the research provided institutional and congregational perspectives on online church experiences. Findings showed that both cohorts harboured concerns about the irreplaceable materiality of traditional sacred spaces. However, church leaders worked rapidly to maximise the digital affordances in their pastoral work, and narratives of spiritual transformations emerged prominently. By contrast, lay-members were generally more conservative in approaching online church experiences, finding them adequate but contributing little to their spiritual needs. This study contributes to theoretical discussions on authenticity in digital religion, highlighting the dynamic intersections of spirituality, technology, and community in online spaces.
Authors:
Meng Yoe Tan, Monash University Malaysia, Malaysia
Pauline Leong, Sunway University, Malaysia
Hock Ann Lim, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Meng Yoe Tan is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia in Malaysia
See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule
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