A global, novel virus that has kept us contained in our homes is reorienting our relationship to government, to the outside world, even to each other. Are there more changes coming? Will borders close again and again? Will touch become taboo? What will become of churches? Will religious worship look different?

There is no question in my mind that COVID-19 will change the world permanently. The greatest impacts will be felt in areas such as the economy, education, race relations, entertainment, technology, environment, sports, diplomacy, work, politics (elections).

For us Christians, the religious landscape in Australia had already been undergoing considerable changes before COVID hit, with mainstream Christianity on the decline. More Australians, and especially our youth, identify as spiritual but not religious and/or religiously non-affiliated atheists, agnostics or what has become known as the “nones” (Pew Research Center 2019).

On the plus side, just as the anxieties of the past have led many to search for greater meaning in their lives, the pandemic has at least made it easier for people to explore their spirituality, with the move to online religious worship.

The COVID-19 epidemic will probably exacerbate these changes, if it has not done so already, making it unlikely that some older people, who typically attend church, to continue to do so. Instead, many regular churchgoers are turning to watch services online or on TV. Such changes will inevitably lead people to realise they can practise their religion in other ways, through small virtual or in-person groups or simply by watching services virtually. Welcome to the world of the ‘hybrid’ church.

This has already deepened the reluctance in ‘giving’ for many congregations after decades of diminishing contributions from congregants in some denominations. The prognosis must be that some churches will go under, others will merge, while some will continue on a part-time or limited basis.

On the plus side, just as the anxieties of the past have led many to search for greater meaning in their lives, the pandemic has at least made it easier for people to explore their spirituality, with the move to online religious worship.

As churches have long been a social cornerstone of Australian society, and an important source of community support and aid, it is my hope that as society reconfigures to be more reliant on digital technologies and focused on individual spiritual development, we do not forget the importance of collectively working to better our communities and sharing resources with those in need. May I quote one of my favourite verses – “Let us not stop meeting together…” Heb 10:25

Why am I so glum? Under COVID-19 with its growing mutations, even going to the grocery store requires a battle plan: What to wear? When to go? How to safely retreat? Fear, confusion, and upheaval have led to a hunger for news. Research shows that news consumption globally rose 36 per cent under COVID.

Journalists are accustomed to reporting in extraordinary times, but COVID-19 is a singular moment in our lifetimes. We have seen the virus lay siege to our hospitals and nursing homes and lay bare racial disparities long ignored. There are countless important stories to tell, of job losses, financial pressures, and increased hostilities, including criticism of the church for opening its doors while allowing sports, major events, and pubs to operate unhindered.

The media is part of this transformation and will need to address the lack of true diversity in its ranks. The media today is predominantly pro-death, anti-Christian, and conservative averse. In my experience as a spokesman for FamilyVoice where we advocate for family, freedom, and faith, it is common among journalists to mock anyone with a Christian worldview.

As Christians, we are fond of emphasising the triumph of hope and life over fear. But how do people of faith observe one of the holiest days of the year if they cannot rejoice together on Christmas morning? I know of one Anglican church near me that is closing its doors on Christmas Day.

Religion in the time of quarantine has challenged conceptions of what it means to minister and to fellowship. But it will also expand the opportunities for those who have no local congregation to sample sermons from afar.

How do Jews celebrate their deliverance from bondage when Passover Seders must take place on Zoom, with the elderly left to wonder why internet connection froze? Can Muslim families celebrate Ramadan if they cannot visit local mosques for Tarawih prayers or gather with loved ones to break the fast?

All faiths have at various times dealt with the challenge of keeping their faith alive under the hardships of war, diaspora, or persecution – but never all faiths at the same time. Religion in the time of quarantine has challenged conceptions of what it means to minister and to fellowship. But it will also expand the opportunities for those who have no local congregation to sample sermons from afar.

There is no argument that the pandemic has altered the way many people come together to worship, and according to some church leaders, this change is here to stay. As a novice social researcher, I see the practice of our faith under COVID becoming more private, less communal, less socially focused, but more challenging. The major causes of the Protestant Reformation included its political, economic, social, and religious background. Will there be a need for a ‘Reformation’ in the way the church functions post-COVID? I suspect so. Soli Deo Gloria.

Greg Bondar is a chaplain, lay preacher, and state director of Family Voice NSW/ACT.