The Church Online: the Roman Catholic Church and Social Media in the Czech Republic

HAVLÍČEK, Jakub. The Church Online: the Roman Catholic Church and Social Media in the Czech Republic. Online. Caritas et Veritas. Faculty of Theology, University of South Bohemia, 2018, vol. 2, p. 156-175.

Basic information

• Original name: The Church Online: the Roman Catholic Church and Social Media in the Czech Republic
• Name in Czech: Církev online. Římskokatolická církev a sociální média v České republice
• Name (in English): The Church Online: the Roman Catholic Church and Social Media in the Czech Republic
• Authors: HAVLÍČEK, Jakub.
• Edition: Caritas et Veritas, Faculty of Theology, University of South Bohemia, 2018.

Other information

• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Keywords (in Czech): Církev římskokatolická, internet, sociální média, Facebook, nová evangelizace, sekularizace, nastolování agendy, náboženská paměť
• Keywords in English: Roman Catholic Church, the Internet, social media, Facebook, new evangelisation, secularisation, agenda development, religious memory
• Tags: agenda development, facebook, new evangelisation, religious memory, Roman catholic church, secularisation, social media, the Internet
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The article deals with how the Catholic Church is presented on the Internet, especially on social networks. It summarises the official opinions of the Church about the Internet and focuses on the state of the use of social networks by the Church, with an emphasis on the Czech environment. It solves the question of interpreting the issue from the point of view of the socially scientifi c study of religion. Methodologically, it is based on a qualitative descriptive analysis of primary sources and on a quantitative analysis of pages on social networks. From an emic point of view, the presentation on social networks carries out the informational, evangelistic, and pastoral functions for the Church. The use of social networks is associated with the new evangelisation. From the ethical point of view, the text examines the issue in relation to the concept of secularisation at individual, societal, and organisational levels. Through being presented on social networking the Church responds to the individualisation and privatisation of religions. Being present on social media also helps to establish a media and public agenda of the Church, and to form, maintain, and spread religious memory. Changes in the organisational structure of the Church administration can also be observed by which the Church has responded to socio-cultural changes in modern societies.

Abstract (in Czech)

Stať se zabývá prezentací katolické církve na internetu, zejména na sociálních sítích. Shrnuje oficiální stanoviska církve k internetu a zaměřuje se na stav využívání sociálních sítí církví s důrazem na české prostředí. Řeší otázku interpretace problematiky z hlediska sociálně vědního studia náboženství. Metodologicky stať vychází z kvalitativní deskriptivní analýzy primárních zdrojů a z kvantitativní analýzy stránek na sociálních sítích. Z emického hlediska plní prezentace na sociálních sítích pro církev funkce informační, evangelizační a pastorační. Využití sociálních sítí je spojováno s novou evangelizací. Z etického hlediska interpretuje text zkoumanou problematiku ve vztahu ke koncepci sekularizace na úrovních individuální, societální a organizační. Církev pomocí prezentací na sociálních sítích reaguje na individualizaci a privatizaci náboženství, prezentace na sociálních sítích církvi slouží i k nastolování mediální a veřejné agendy a k formování, udržování a šíření náboženské paměti. Lze pozorovat i změny v organizačním uspořádání církevní správy, jimiž církev reaguje na sociokulturní změny v moderních společnostech.

Abstract (in English)

The article deals with how the Catholic Church is presented on the Internet, especially on social networks. It summarises the official opinions of the Church about the Internet and focuses on the state of the use of social networks by the Church, with an emphasis on the Czech environment. It solves the question of interpreting the issue from the point of view of the socially scientifi c study of religion. Methodologically, it is based on a qualitative descriptive analysis of primary sources and on a quantitative analysis of pages on social networks. From an emic point of view, the presentation on social networks carries out the informational, evangelistic, and pastoral functions for the Church. The use of social networks is associated with the new evangelisation. From the ethical point of view, the text examines the issue in relation to the concept of secularisation at individual, societal, and organisational levels. Through being presented on social networking the Church responds to the individualisation and privatisation of religions. Being present on social media also helps to establish a media and public agenda of the Church, and to form, maintain, and spread religious memory. Changes in the organisational structure of the Church administration can also be observed by which the Church has responded to socio-cultural changes in modern societies.