The Effects of the Digital Culture on the Life of Consecrated Religious Women in Lang’ata, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the effects of digital culture on the life of consecrated religious women in Lang’ata, Nairobi, Kenya. It was guided by four research objectives: to examine the effects of addiction to television programmes on prayer life; to ascertain the consequences of the inappropriate use of smart phones on fraternal life; to investigate how excessive time spent on social networks affects preparation for pastoral ministry and its quality and to propose ways of mitigating challenges of digital culture on the lives of consecrated religious women. The targeted population of the study was 112 consecrated religious women from 9 different congregations living in Lang’ata South; out of which 87 participants were selected as sample size for the study using fisher’s formula. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data from participants. The quantitative data was coded and analysed using descriptive statistical techniques and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data, and presented in tables, frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data was analysed according to the emerging themes and presented in narrative form and direct quotations. The findings of both quantitative strands and qualitative data collected in line with the research objectives of the study showed that abuse of digital culture dependency affects prayer life, the fraternal life, and apostolate of consecrated religious women in Lang’ata, Nairobi Kenya. Also, it has eaten deep into some of the religious women that they find solace and happiness in socializing on social media. It has also become a maladaptive behaviour, bringing division and individualism in some religious communities. Results of the study also revealed that majority of the religious women are victims of addiction to their smartphone chatting with their smartphones even during community gatherings, or prayer time. The study concludes that majority of religious women who are cut in the web of this social network addiction lack focus and become less creative in their pastoral ministry due to lack of concentration.

Keywords: Digital culture, consecrated religious women, Lang’ata, Nairobi, Kenya