Ecclesiastical Communication with Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Two German and Two Swedish Websites

Abstract This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) on Religious Education in Germany and Sweden, focusing on online instructional materials offered by four Protestant denominations. Using Hellspong’s comparative analysis framework, it assesses the language, content, and social tone of these materials. The study compares the denominations’ responses to the pandemic and finds that they all acknowledge its challenges and offer coping strategies for Religious Education. They primarily adhere to ‘denominational exclusivity’ and rarely include links to other denominations. Additionally, the study explores the potential lessons for future pandemics with ongoing lockdowns. These instructional texts serve as platforms to address suffering, offer hope, and provide support to families and parents engaged in home-schooling, demonstrating the value of instructional digital texts during crises like pandemics.