Worshipping Musically Online During Covid-19

Abstract

The Covid-19-pandemic and resulting infection control measures drastically impacted the ability of Christian worshippers to gather and practice their faith. As a result, online solutions emerged as the primary option for maintaining religious practice. In this article, I conduct an autoethnographic study of my own experiences as a member of a Lutheran congregation to explore the impact of online worship practices during the pandemic. Specifically, I examine how music and sounds in worship online shaped worshippers like me through affective means, and what social and political effects these sonic engagements had. To guide my analysis, I draw on Gibson’s concept of affordance and affect theory as theoretical frameworks. It is important to acknowledge that online worship during the pandemic was experienced in different ways. Some individuals may have experienced a sense of flourishing and connection through online worship, while others may have felt isolated and disconnected. Although online worship may lack the physical presence of traditional religious gatherings, it can still serve as a means of facilitating a sense of an ‘absent presence’ for individual worshippers. Overall, understanding the impact of online worship practices during the pandemic is an important area of study with significant implications for the future of religious practice.