Theology Students’ Views on the Communication with the ‘Other’ During COVID-19 Lockdown

During the academic year 2022-2023, the Schools of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Paderborn University conducted field research among 60 students about whether they believed their communication skills with the ‘others’ had improved during the lockdown due to COVID-19. The participating students belonged to three Christian denominations (Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic) and were all pursuing degrees to become Religious Education teachers. They were asked to fill in a questionnaire, developed and used for the purposes of the study, that also encouraged them to become self-aware of their emotions while communicating with ‘others’—individuals who, like themselves, were isolated in their homes. The results indicated that students’ reflections on their communication with the ‘others’ varied, revealing different perspectives and insights. However, the prevailing emotion among students was that their communication skills did not improve during the lockdown period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of the students—approximately 65.64%—expressed solely negative viewpoints, suggesting that digital communication cannot adequately substitute for real, face-to-face interactions, and that the absence of interpersonal contact and social engagement has resulted in diminished quality of relationships. This was followed by a smaller proportion of students who articulated only positive arguments and emotions or presented a balanced view, incorporating both positive and negative aspects. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic also had some significant positive results in the transformation of human communication, revealing both challenges and opportunities across various Christian denominations.