In an increasingly digital world, the way people engage with religion is evolving. For many, traditional methods of attending weekly services or visiting places of worship have shifted to exploring faith from the comfort of home. Online sermons, virtual study groups, and apps offering spiritual guidance are making religious practices more accessible than ever and helping people grow their spirituality.

This trend has been driven by convenience, technology, and, for some, the residual effects of the pandemic. Below, we’ll dive into one recent study that shed light on the changing habits of religious individuals and how people interact with religion from home.

Learning More About a Religion

One way people are exploring religion from home is simply by learning more about different religions. Rather than picking up a religion’s holy book, purchasing a book on the religion, or attending a religious service, many people use the internet to learn more about a particular religion.

According to a Pew Research Center study, 30 percent of U.S. adults say they go online to search for more information about a religion. The reasons for this are likely obvious – it’s much easier to find information online, and there is a lot more information available. Individuals who want to learn the basics of a religion before diving in further will likely turn to the internet for its convenience.

Attending Religious Services Online

Attending religious services online became immensely popular during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the same Pew Research Center study, about 25 percent of U.S. adults regularly watch religious services online or on TV. Many people continue to watch these services online, even though it is now safer to do so in person.

This is because two-thirds of those individuals who stream religious services online say they are either “extremely satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the services they see. One reason for this is the music, with a little more than half saying they are highly satisfied with the music at worship services online.

Teaching Children Religion at Home

Teaching religion at home is another way that families explore faith. Many parents choose to educate their children on religious beliefs, especially if they cannot find classes they like in their area. By choosing to educate their children themselves, parents have more direct control over the education their children receive.

It’s also easier than ever to provide a religious education from home. There is a wealth of materials online that parents can use to enhance teachings and make them more engaging. Parents can also use tools like a King James study bible from Pentecostal Publishing House, which provides additional context to the readings and makes them more accessible to students.

Apps and Websites for Daily Study

The Pew Research Center study also found that 21 percent of U.S. adults use either apps or websites to help them read the Bible or other religious scriptures. Combine this with the fact that 14% also use apps and websites to help them pray or for daily prayer reminders, and it’s clear that the internet has become a significant part of daily religious observation for many. These tools are not only accessible from home, but anywhere an individual has their phone, making them highly convenient.

Religion-Focused Podcasts

Podcasts have exploded over the past few years. There are now more podcasts than ever on practically any topic you can think of. This is especially true of religious podcasts. According to Exploding Topics, there are about 302,000 religion and spirituality podcasts, accounting for roughly 15 percent of all podcasts.

The Blubrry Podcast Directory reports similar numbers, with about 92,000 of their 660,000+ podcasts in the Religious category, or about 14 percent. Either way, more people are connecting with religion from home, thanks to the accessible and cost-effective nature of podcasts.

People Still Prefer In-Person Worship

However, despite many people engaging with religion from home, most still prefer to worship in person. The same Pew Research Center study found that roughly two-thirds of in-person attendees say they feel “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of connection with other attendees, while only 28 percent of those viewing live say they feel a strong connection.

In addition, various Pew Research Center surveys since early 2020 have shown that the percentage of U.S. adults taking part in religious services has held steady. But, as vaccines became more widely available, in-person attendance numbers rebounded to former levels while the number of people watching on screen declined. So, while virtual participation may provide an adequate experience for many, most still prefer to worship in person with other members of their community.