Vivências religiosas em rede: a comunidade virtual do Exército de São Miguel

Abstract

This study addresses the relationship between media and religion, based on the concept of virtual communities (RHEINGOLD, 1997). The analysis focused on the functioning and perspective of the members of the Exército de São Miguel, a virtual religious community formed around the live broadcasts of the Instituto Hesed, with a focus on the rosary livestreams held at 4 a.m. The objective of this research is to understand the functioning of this community, the impact of live streams on the spirituality of the faithful, the factors that influence their sense of belonging to the group, and the construction of identity based on joining an online community. The study is qualitative in nature, based on a semi-open interview methodology (DUARTE et al., 2010) with members of this group and a representative of the religious institute. It was concluded that media strategies are used to promote content on social networks and encourage participation in face-to-face events. In addition, the faithful incorporate the programming into their daily lives, acquire habits and devotions transmitted by the religious, and, in fact, consider themselves part of a community that is online but, above all, spiritual, according to the faith they profess.