Religiosität und heterodoxe Wirklichkeitskonstruktionen innerhalb digitaler muslimischer Communities im Kontext der Corona-Pandemie. Eine explorative Analyse von Facebook-Diskussionen

The past few years have been globally shaped by the corona pandemic, which has been accompanied by significant social transformation processes. The sudden and unforeseen pandemic situation encouraged the emergence of heterodox interpretations, which provided alternative explanations for the extraordinary situation. The discussion around the coronavirus vaccination was particularly controversial, with its (non-)utilization often justified by conflicting constructions of reality. In the context of this study, 50 discussion posts from Muslim Facebook groups were analyzed using Grounded Theory Methodology. The analysis focused on the central patterns of interpretation and explanation expressed by Muslims, especially in the context of the coronavirus vaccination and the broader coronavirus pandemic. This approach allows us to understand how Muslims adopt heterodox ‘profane’ interpretations, connect them with religious knowledge, and furthermore, what strategies of nihilification they employ to defend against heterodox interpretations. Based on this investigation, three ideal types were identified, which differ substantially in the way they interpret and explain social phenomena. Consistent with existing research, an ambivalent influence of religiosity on openness to heterodox constructions of reality is evident.