NAVIGATING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN SHAPING TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE

Abstract

What happens when a centuries-old institution decides to take artificial intelligence seriously? This study explores exactly that question. We examine AI acceptance within the Communication and Educational Foundation of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete (CEFHAC), drawing on survey data from 444 participants connected to the Foundation's diverse departments -- archives, museums, libraries, a radio station, Byzantine music schools, and spiritual education centers. The results are, frankly, striking. Ninety-seven percent of respondents said they were familiar with the term 'Artificial Intelligence.' Regular internet use and social media engagement were nearly universal. These are not the numbers one might expect from a population often assumed to be at arm's length from digital culture. Factor analysis revealed three attitudinal dimensions: enhancement of organizational effectiveness through AI, privacy and ethical concerns, and long-term institutional integration. Cluster analysis distinguished two respondent profiles -- a 'high-acceptance' group genuinely enthusiastic about AI's potential, and a 'cautiously optimistic' group that sees the value but worries, particularly about privacy and the preservation of human-centered spiritual care. The central finding is this: digital literacy predicts AI acceptance far more reliably than age, gender, or any other demographic variable. That has real consequences for how ecclesiastical leaders plan their digital futures. The study argues for targeted literacy training, honest engagement with privacy concerns, and AI strategies that do not ask faith-based institutions to abandon what makes them distinctive.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Research, 2026 · DOI ↗