Abstract
This essay centres on the role of religion in the era of Covid-19. We juxtapose social media and religious practices in a way that challenges the conventional religion of the pulpit to deconstruct the myths and misconceptions around spirituality in the era of Covid-19. We show the transformation of worship from physical worship places, particularly churches, to virtual engagements through social media. Through observation, close relations’ accounts, personal experiences and media perspectives, we analyze the politics that surrounded religious observances in the first 7 months of Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya. We make a case that, discoveries made in these seven and other months to come, will most likely influenced the myths and misconceptions about religion and religious practices in the Country. From these accounts, we project a future that is likely to reap from the benefits of technology, and especially social media, which has revolutionized exchange of ideas, sermons, prayers and music. We challenge the very notion of pulpit religiosity, and the myths and misconceptions that religion cannot be without physical fellowships.
Highlights
Covid-19 took the world by a storm
Among other serious ramifications of the virus, besides stretched health care systems and massive deaths, it was clear that the world had been caught on the wrong foot by a disease whose main threat lie on its mode of spread than on the fatality rate, especially for the African countries
A trajectory of these myths was flung by the President of a country in the Eastern African region who confirmed that his own child who contracted the virus recovered after using steam therapy and taking a lot of garlic and lemon
Summary
Covid-19 took the world by a storm. It paralyzed the global systems and disoriented the norm in almost all parts of the world. Through social media the Apostle of one of the mega Pentecostal Churches in Kenya, on his homepage on Facebook claims to have been used by the Lord to warn people about the current global situation. He has a preaching in which he claims to be prophesying about Covid-19. It is not possible to discern the contexts within which these past clips were made, and ascertain their authenticity, the leaders seem to try and find relevance at a time of crises The fact that they have following in the radio stations and social media platforms gives them an upper hand over churches that are yet to establish the same. One Pastor for instance, observed that the corona pandemic has provided an opportunity for leaders, who have been self-seeking and materialistic church leaders, exploiting their members and manipulating them to give money, to come to the aid of their members and help them in times of need
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