Competing or Completing? Explaining Priests' Atittudes Towards Ortho-Bloggers

• In Event: New Political Science & Religion and Politics Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: Religion and Politics Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Religious blogging has gained momentum in the last decade. Extensive research covers the evolution, organization and activity of online Christian religious bloggers among Chatolics, Protestants and Neo-Protestants groups. Most analyses focus on the perspective of bloggers. In this context, limited attention is paid to online Orthodox groups and we know very little about how the clergy sees the activity of ortho-bloggers. This paper adresses this gap in the literature and aims to explain how the activity of bloggers is perceived by Orthodox priests. It uses Romania as a case study due to its Orthodox majority, a very good internet infrastructure and activ Orthodox Church. The qualitative analysis draws on semi-structured interviews with Orthodox priests conducted in January 2021. The results indicate suport for the activity of ortho-bloggers from young priests, with parishes in medium or large cities, who are familiar with the online environment, and who are highly involved in community life. The findings bear important theoretical and empirical implications for the study of religion and engagement with new modes of communication in new democracies.

Author

• Dragoș Șamșudean