An Exploration of Batak Spirituality Among the Younger Generation in the Digital Era Through a Cultural Approach
Abstract
Batak spirituality in the digital era is undergoing significant challenges and transformations in meaning, especially among the younger generation. This spirituality is deeply rooted in belief in God, reverence for ancestors, and harmony with nature. This study aims to explore how young people understand and implement Batak spirituality within the context of digital culture, as well as how these transformations affect the sustainability of cultural values. The research employs a qualitative approach with observation and in-depth interviews involving ten informants representing Generations Z, X, and Baby Boomers. Data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns in the intergenerational interpretation of spirituality. The findings reveal that younger generations tend to integrate Batak spiritual values into Christian religiosity while maintaining cultural symbols as a form of identity. The digital era offers new opportunities for preserving spiritual values, but it also poses risks of symbolic dilution and loss of context. Thus, Batak spirituality today does not disappear but adapts in form to remain relevant in contemporary life.
Downloads
References
Abdussamad, H. Z. (2021). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif (Patta Rapanna (ed.). CV. Syakir Media Press.
Ariarajah, S. W. (2005). Intercultural Hermeneutics — a Promise for the Future? Exchange, 34(2), 89–101. https://doi.org/10.1163/1572543054068523
Berutu, S. B. (2013). Pandangan Orang Batak Toba tentang Penyembahan Roh Leluhur (Kajian Sosio-Antropologis terhadap Paham Kepercayaan tentang Penyembahan Leluhur sebagai Sumber Pasu-Pasu di Desa Urat. Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana.
Campbell, H. A. (2012). Comunnity. In H. A. Campbell (Ed.), Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in New Media Worlds. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203084861
Carson, D. A. (2008). Christ & Culture: Revisited. Publishing Company.
Damami, M. (2012). Budaya Spiritual Dalam Konteks Globalisasi. Repositori Kemendikbud.
Donobakti, Y. A. (2020). Sebuah Pemahaman Tentang Spiritualitas Penduduk Asli Batak Toba Dan Pengaruhnya Dalam Kehidupan Sehari-Hari. Logos, 16(2), 81–95. https://doi.org/10.54367/logos.v16i2.1032
Firmando, H. B. (2024). The Role of The Traditional Beliefs of the Toba Batak Community in Social Practices in the Lake Toba Region: A Review of Culture and Context. Asketik, 8(1), 156–177. https://doi.org/10.30762/asketik.v8i1.1433
Hutabarat, R. (2023). Spiritualisme Batak Mempunyai Kharisma Yang Tinggi. Ebataknews.
Pieris, A. (1994). Inculturation in Asia. A theological reflection on an experience”. Jahrbuch für Kontextuelle Theologien, 94.
Siagian, R. J. (2024). Teologi Sahala. L-Sapika Indonesia.
Sihombing, L., Sihite, P., & Sitompul, R. P. (2024). Kekristenan Dan Budaya Batak : Sinergi Antara Iman Dan Tradisi. Nubuat : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Kristen dan Katolik, 1(4), 191–196.
Simanjuntak, J. P., & Ndona, Y. (2024). Eksistensi Nilai Ketuhanan Dalam Budaya Batak Toba. Garuda: Jurnal Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan Dan Filsafat, 2(2), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.59581/garuda.v2i2.3272
Sirait, R. A., & Sukarna, T. (2024). Tinjauan Teologis Panggilan Debata Terhadap Iman Kristen Dalam Masyarakat Batak Toba. Jurnal Riset Rumpun Agama dan Filsafat, 3(1), 94–107. https://doi.org/10.55606/jurrafi.v3i1.2748
Sitompul, D. B. (2024). Religiusitas Masyarakat Batak Toba Di Era Modern: Studi Kasus Di Kecamatan Sianjur Mulamula Samosir. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Sosial Humaniora, 9(1), 68–75. https://doi.org/10.32696/jp2sh.v9i1.2512
Sitorus, L. (2022). Nilai-Nilai Luhur Budaya Batak Toba: Studi Kasus Dalam Masyarakat Ugamo Malim. Nalar: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 1(2), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.56444/nalar.v1i2.94
Situmorang, W. K. (2025). Kearifan Lokal Manortor: Sebagai Jembatan Budaya Dan Spiritualitas Batak Tarian Untuk Tuhan. Tri Tunggal, 3(1), 202–212.
Tambunan, M. I., Aini, N., Tanjung, V., & Situmorang, Y. N. (2023). Spiritualitas Di Era Disrupsi Digital Dan Implikasinya Pada Gereja Masa Kini. Nabisuk: Jurnal Teologi dan Pelayanan, 1(1), 1–16.
Tanggur, F. S., Haba, Y. L., Lado, I. R., Mafo, M., Naldison, E., & Lulu, W. (2025). Transformasi Nilai-Nilai Budaya Lokal Di Era Digital Pada Generasi Z Kota Kupang. Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin Terpadu, 9(1), 273–278.
Turkle, S. (2011). Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. Basic Books.
Vasquez, M. (2011). More than Belief: A Materialist Theory of Religion. Oxford University Press.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yosua Xpistos Gultom
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Visio Dei: Jurnal Teologi Kristen publishes articles under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Users are free to copy, modify, or redistribute articles for any lawful purpose in any media, provided they give appropriate credit to the original author and Visio Dei: Jurnal Teologi Kristen as the publisher, links to the license, indicate if changes have been made, and redistribute any derivative works under the same license.
Article copyright is held by the respective author (s), without limitation. A non-exclusive license is granted to Visio Dei: Jurnal Teologi Kristen to publish articles and identify itself as the original publisher, including commercial rights to sell them to libraries and individuals.
By publishing articles in Visio Dei: Jurnal Teologi Kristen, authors grant rights to third parties to use their articles to the extent granted by the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.
