Digitalisasi dan Sahala

(The Challenge of Sahala Theology in Facing Christian Spiritual Transformation in the Age of Technology)

Abstract

This article examines the complex dynamic relationship between developments in digitalization and the theological concept of Sahala in the context of Batak society, focusing on changes in spiritual practices, customary values, and philosophical interpretations of Sahala, a soul/spirit concept that is the foundation of Batak religious identity. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combines theological studies, cultural anthropology, and technological analysis, this research identifies that digital advances do not only bring ease of access, but also trigger tensions between technological modernity and the sacredness of Sahala, especially in aspects of ritual authenticity, spiritual authority structures, and the process of passing on knowledge across generations. Digital platforms such as social media, virtual spaces, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) open opportunities for the preservation and dissemination of Sahala values, for example through the digitization of ancient Pustaha manuscripts or documentation of the Mangongkal Holi ritual, but at the same time, these practices have the potential to simplify the spiritual meaning of Sahala into commercialized content, uprooted from the solemnity of the original context.