Janković Svetlana 2025, FASTING IN THE DIGITAL SPACE. 21.
In: CHALLENGES FACING RELIGION AND THE CHURCH IN POSTMODERN DIGITAL SOCIETY.
Ed: Blagojević Mirko. Silver Lake, Veliko Gradište, 5–6 September 2025 .
ISBN 978-86-7093-289-0 Belgrade: Institute of Social Sciences.
Svetlana Janković
Center for Encouraging Dialogue and Tolerance Čačak, Čačak, Serbia
FASTING IN THE DIGITAL SPACE
The subject of the presentation is fasting as a religious practice with similar characteristics across all monotheistic religions. Possible forms of fasting in digital churches will be presented, including digital fasting, fasting from negative content, fasting from digital noise, and fasting from certain digital activities. Additionally, virtual joint prayer and fasting via platforms such as Zoom, Discord, and others, where prayers and spiritual experiences are shared, will be discussed. The focus of the presentation will be on the fact that the essence of fasting is not only abstaining from forbidden foods, as that is only a half of the practice. It must also include the other half: abstinence from sinful thoughts, actions, and desires. In this way, fasting, like humanity, has a dual nature, consisting of both the physical and the spiritual component. Only together do these two elements constitute true fasting, which benefits both the soul and the body. This religious practice is also an opportunity for more intense prayer and spiritual renewal. Fasting plays an important role in the religious lives of many people.
However, its application and understanding in the context of virtual communities and online churches present new challenges and opportunities. Virtual churches and online services represent a new form of religious gathering, allowing believers to participate in rituals, prayers, and spiritual activities without being physically present in a temple. Many churches and religious communities have adapted their approach by regularly roadcasting services through social media and platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Viber groups, and WhatsApp groups. This is a broad and dynamic phenomenon that demonstrates how technology can transform traditional religious forms and create new avenues for spiritual support in the modern world. It is concluded that even traditional spiritual practices, such as fasting, can be transformed in the modern, digital context. Although challenges for authenticity and spiritual depth exist, new technologies enable people to connect and support each other in their spiritual journeys, making fasting accessible to a wider audience and diverse faith communities.
Key words: fasting, digital environment, online church, virtual communities
PRILOZI:
CHALLENGES FACING RELIGION AND THE CHURCH IN POSTMODERN DIGITAL SOCIETY