Navigating Digital Faith Formation: Christian Education Strategies for Indonesian Gen Z in Online Gaming Addiction Contexts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53547/99z07p53Keywords:
Christian education strategies, faith formation, Indonesian Gen Z, navigating digital faith, online gaming addictionAbstract
The addiction to online gaming among Generation Z is a major social problem in Indonesia, hitting roughly 28% of the digital-native population and causing psychological upheaval, social isolation, and hindered spiritual development. However, there was no scientific integration of the empirical findings on gaming addiction with Christian educational methods to the growth of digital faith, in terms of a systematic synthesis that links psychological impacts with contextual discipleship frameworks. The research aimed to identify and contextualize Christian educational methods to Gen Z in Indonesia who are facing internet gaming addiction. The research targeted Gen Z (born from mid-1990s to early 2010s) with significant access to internet and gaming in urban and semi-urban areas in Indonesia, and the worldwide literature was used for contextual adaption. A systematic literature search of DOAJ-indexed and Christian education articles (2013–2025) was undertaken applying purposive sampling of both empirical and conceptual studies on gaming addiction, digital Christian education, and gamification. Data collected amalgamated primary themes: thematic analysis. Gaming addiction was most common in males aged 12 to 25 years and resulted in physical, psychological, social and scholastic disadvantages when playing for 4 to 6 hours per day. Five strategy themes emerged: theological realignment, spiritual online literacy, salvaging gamification, hybrid congregations, and family, church, and school cooperation. Christian schooling shifted from constraints to full digital faith growth, using gaming components to discipleship.
Abstrak
Kecanduan gim daring pada Generasi Z merupakan persoalan sosial yang serius di Indonesia, yang diperkirakan dialami oleh sekitar 28% populasi digital native serta menimbulkan gejolak psikologis, isolasi sosial, dan hambatan dalam perkembangan spiritual. Namun, belum terdapat integrasi ilmiah yang memadai antara temuan empiris mengenai kecanduan gim dan metode pendidikan Kristen bagi pertumbuhan iman digital dalam bentuk sintesis sistematis yang menghubungkan dampak psikologis dengan kerangka pemuridan yang kontekstual. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi dan mengontekstualisasikan metode pendidikan Kristen bagi Generasi Z di Indonesia yang menghadapi kecanduan gim daring. Penelitian ini berfokus pada Generasi Z yang lahir dari pertengahan 1990-an hingga awal 2010-an, dengan akses yang signifikan terhadap internet dan gim di wilayah perkotaan dan semi-perkotaan di Indonesia, sementara literatur global digunakan sebagai dasar untuk melakukan adaptasi kontekstual. Penelusuran literatur sistematis terhadap artikel yang terindeks DOAJ dan artikel dalam bidang pendidikan Kristen yang diterbitkan pada 2013–2025 dilakukan dengan menggunakan purposive sampling terhadap studi empiris dan konseptual mengenai kecanduan gim, pendidikan Kristen digital, dan gamifikasi. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis melalui analisis tematik untuk mengidentifikasi tema-tema utama. Kecanduan gim paling banyak ditemukan pada laki-laki berusia 12 hingga 25 tahun dan menimbulkan dampak negatif secara fisik, psikologis, sosial, dan akademik ketika aktivitas bermain berlangsung selama 4 hingga 6 jam per hari. Lima tema strategi yang muncul meliputi penyelarasan kembali teologis, literasi spiritual daring, pemanfaatan gamifikasi, jemaat hibrida, serta kerja sama antara keluarga, gereja, dan sekolah. Pendidikan Kristen mengalami pergeseran dari pendekatan yang berorientasi pada pembatasan menuju pengembangan iman digital secara menyeluruh dengan memanfaatkan komponen gim sebagai sarana pemuridan.
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