ABSTRACT
This study examines the communicative actions of Indonesian religious institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on truth claims regarding worship restrictions shared through digital platforms. Using Habermas's theory of communicative action and rationality, the study emphasises key elements of communication competence: clarity, truth, openness, and mutual understanding. These elements were crucial during the pandemic in fostering transparency, preventing conflicts, and building public trust in institutions. A qualitative approach was adopted to interpret textual meanings within their historical and social contexts. The findings show that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Nahdlatul Ulama implemented restrictive and flexible strategies, while Muhammadiyah and MUI consistently advocated stricter measures. The study highlights the interplay of power relations and religious authority within the lebenswelt of digital democracy. The research offers a novel perspective on discourse production, exposing intersecting power dynamics that influence interpretations of religious authority. Beyond rational communication competence, religious dogmatism and public legitimacy play vital roles in shaping the relationship between power and religion in communication practices. This study contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 16 by emphasising the importance of communication clarity, public legitimacy, and institutional transparency in promoting justice and reinforcing trust in religious and governmental institutions during crises.
