Pandemic Response and Religion in the United States represents an initial archiving of online materials related to religion and the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Materials are organized by thematic category and can be searched by keywords. This database will encourage further research into religion and pandemic response. We hope that such research will in turn serve to guide policy decisions by religious organizations and governments. It will also serve as a foundation for teaching about religion and health, disaster response, and other key issues at the high school and college levels. This project was made possible by a WMU Meader Presidential Endowment Covid19 Response Grant. The project’s principle investigator (PI) is Dr. Stephen Covell and the co-PI is Dr. Diane Riggs. Data was collected by the following graduate students in the Department of Comparative Religion: Cameron Borg, Gerald Brooks, Jarrett Stalinger and Emily Warren.
Submissions from 2020
Love Your Neighbour: Islam, Judaism and Christianity come together over COVID-19, Mohamed Elsanousi, Burton L. Visotzky, Bob Roberts, and World Economic Forum
Coronavirus and Sharia Law: Divide over closure of mosques and ban of Friday prayers in Idlib, Enab Baladi
Here’s What the Science Says About the Links Between Religion and Health, Erica Evans
Making Masks, Everglades Moon Local Council
COVID-19: Pandemic Taking Toll At Maryknoll, A Dozen Deaths Of Priests, Nuns Reported, Zak Failla
U.S. Muslims Try to Balance Eid Rituals with Coronavirus Concerns, Mariam Fam and WHYY PBS
Coronavirus: Muslim Council urges people to avoid communal Eid celebrations, Harry Farley
Coronavirus: Places of worship to reopen for private prayer, Harry Farley
Coronavirus in US: With mosques shut, Muslims turn to technology for their spiritual needs, Umar A. Farooq
How the World Has Learned to Grieve in a Pandemic, Claire Felter, Lindsay Maizland, and Sabine Baumgartner
Iowa Religious Leaders Call on Churches to Avoid Gatherings Despite State Loosening Rules on Services, Charles Flesher
WMU Researchers Creating National Database of Religious Response to COVID-19, Erin Flynn
Drums, Dancers Livestream as Virus Moves Powwows Online, Felicia Fonseca
Everyday Heroes: 'Staggering' need as Muslim community grocery delivery service gets food to homes, Annalise Frank
The Pandemic and the Global Future of Religion, Paul Freston and Religion & Diplomacy
Trump Calls for Memorial Day Church Reopenings but Sends Mixed Signals on Enforcement, John Fritze
Few Americans say their House of Worship is Open, but a Quarter say Their Faith has Grown Amid Pandemic, Claire Gecewicz
The COVID-19 Crisis: Adaptations and tensions during the month of Ramadan, Georgetown University, Katherine Marshall, Atallah FitzGibbon, Samia Huq, Saliou Mbacke, Ismail Mehr, David Robinson, and Olivia Wilkinson
Religion During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Islamic bioethical perspectives, Mohammed Ghaly and The Hastings Institute
Black Pastors Say They Have Trouble Accessing SBA Loan Program, Tom Gjelten
Many Houses Of Worship Have Sought Government Aid, Surveys Show, Tom Gjelten
NIH Director Tells Churches To Do The 'Altruistic, Loving Thing' And Stay Closed, Tom Gjelten
Coronavirus News: Passover Seders going digital during Coronavirus pandemic, Lauren Glassberg
Churches, Chaplains, Nuns Have Unexpected Role in COVID-19 Crisis, Carol Glatz and America The Jesuit Review
Minneapolis to Allow Broadcast of Muslim Call to Prayer Over Loudspeakers During Ramadan, Anthony Gockowski
Covid-19: UN urges unity and service on Buddhist feast of Vesakh, Robin Gomes
Faith in a Time of Crisis, Bryan Goodman
Coronavirus Keeps Many from Paying Tribute at Funerals, Ken Gordon
Comfort for the Comforters: Pandemic brings attention to mental health of faith community leaders, Nicki Gorny
Grace Community Church-Coronavirus Response, Grace Community Church
How Buddhist Centers are Responding to Coronavirus, Lilly Greenblatt
Orthodox Jewish Women Are Facing an Impossible Choice Right Now, Emma Green
An Imam Leads His Congregation Through the Pandemic, Eliza Griswald
In the Time of COVID-19, the Cloistered Life Offers Lessons for the World, Rhina Guidos
The Right to Worship: Church and state clash over religious services in the coronavirus era, Laura Hancock
What Islamists Are Doing and Saying on COVID-19 Crisis, Andrew Hanna
Buddhist Response to COVID-19 Pandemic — Leave no-one behind, Minoru Harada and Religion News Service
Parishioner Photos Fill Otherwise Empty Church, Zach Harig
Sheboygan County Outbreak Highlights Risks Of Reopening Church During Pandemic, Megan Hart
WMU Team Creates National Database to Document How Religious Groups are Handling COVID-19, Tarvarious Haywood
COVID-19 has Altered Church, Religious Services, but Worship Still Offers Comfort Amid Coronavirus, Ann Helmke and Peggy O'Hare
A ‘Breakdown of Trust’: Pandemic Corrodes Church-State Ties in Russia, Andrew Higgins
Watch: Social distancing norms flouted as crowd welcomes Jain monk in MP, Hindustan Times
Will COVID-19 Cause a Religious Recession?, Brian Hollar and Religion & Diplomacy
Physicians and Healers: A traditional perspective on COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS), Walt Hollow; Richard Two Dogs; Chris Tall Bear; Miguel Flores, Jr.; and Michelle Kahn-John
This is How Jewish Leaders are Coping With COVID-19 Around the World, Faygie Holt
For Minnesota's Jews, COVID-19 Reshapes Passover Celebrations, Jean Hopfensperger
Native Healing Dance Offers Comfort During Crisis, Paige Hopkins
Buddhist Groups Move Religious Ceremonies Online Amid COVID-19, Wu Hsin-yun and Kay Liu
American Muslims and COVID-19, Amir Hussain and Clare Castro
Each Week on this Page We'll Post Rev. Earl's Shared Thoughts and Messages, Earl Ikeda
How Religions and Religious Leaders can Help to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic: Indonesia's experience, Hakimul Ikhwan, Vissia Ita Yulianto, and Medical Xpress
Judaism, COVID-19, and “Crip Wisdom”, Sarah Imhoff and Berkley Center- Georgetown University
COVID 19, Institute of Jainology
Ven. Ming Yu of American Buddhist Confederation on fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic, Interfaith Center of New York
Hinduism & Coronavirus: How the digital becomes sacred, Rebecca Irons
Russian Orthodox Church Defrocks Coronavirus-Denying Monk, Vladimir Isachenkov and Time
Islamic Society of Midwest-Chicago, Islamic Society of Midwest-Chicago
COVID: Resources for information related to the Covid-19 virus, Islamic Society of North America
Muslims Join Jumma Prayers at Mosques After a Month, Mainul Islam
Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Statement on the COVID-19 Pandemic, Chiko Iwagami and Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Convent Outside Detroit Lost 13 Nuns to Covid-19 with 12 Dying in One Month, Amanda Jackson, Rebekah Riess, and Sharif Paget
‘We Hope Normalcy Will Not Happen All of a Sudden’: Hindu leaders have an inclusive message for all Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, Meera Jagannathan
High COVID-19 Attack Rate Among Attendees at Events at a Church — Arkansas, March 2020, Allison James, Lesli Eagle, Cassandra Phillips, D. Stephen Hedges, Cathie Bodenhamer, Robin Brown, J. Gary Wheeler, and Hannah Kirking
Thousands Defy COVID-19 Lockdown Norms to Welcome Jain Monks in Madhya Pradesh as State Record 225 Coronavirus Deaths, Janta Ka Reporter
With Coronavirus Infections Linked to Religious Gatherings, Debate Rages Over Worship Amid Pandemic, Jack Jenkins and National Catholic Reporter
Cincinnati Community Mikveh, Jewish Federation Cincinnati
Passover in the Age of COVID-19: A guide, Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Coronavirus Community Resources, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
COVID 19 Community Resources, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey
‘Jewish Factor’ Declared to Explain Disproportionate Communal Covid-19 Deaths, Jewish News Reporter
Small-Scale Hindu Temples Struggle to Cope with COVID-19 Restrictions, Meenketan Jha
North Suburban Mosques Observe Ramadan Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Johnson, Steve Schering, and Chicago Tribune
The Kung Fu Nuns Of Kathmandu, Windsor Johnston
Muslims Find New Ways to Observe Ramadan with Illinois' 'stay-at-home' Order in Place, Will Jones
25 Jewish Things to Do Under Quarantine, Kate Kaput
Jewish Sleepaway Camp Operators Sue Over Coronavirus Closures, Rick Karlin
Kasi Temple Flint Tempple Re-opening Announcement, Kasi Temple Board of Trustees
4 Reasons Why the Rush to Reopen Churches Goes Beyond Politics, Harmeet Kaur
How Religious Communities are Modifying Traditions to Prevent Coronavirus Spread, Harmeet Kaur
Religious Leaders Thank Pence for Flexibility to Reopen but Urge Caution, KCRG-TV
My Son’s Bar Mitzvah has to be Postponed Due to Covid-19. What Should I Do?, Dawn Kepler and The Jewish News of Northern California
Inside the Fringe Japanese Religion That Claims It Can Cure Covid-19, Sam Kestenbaum
Muslim Groups Join Forces to Raise $500,000 for Coronavirus Relief Grants, Aysha Khan
The right to worship: Church and state clash over religious services in the coronavirus era, Mansee Khurana
COVID-19 Is a Devil Testing Organized Religion, Ed Kilgor
Coronavirus in Ohio: Some houses of worship to reopen Sunday, others more cautious, Danae King
Worshipers Heed Gov. JB Pritzker's Plea to Stay Home Easter Sunday, Celebrate Safely Amid COVID-19 Outbreak, Jesse Kirsch
Tsantsabane Cares: A faith alliance addresses COVID-19 in Tsantsabane Municipality, South Africa, Renier Koegelenberg, Katherine Marshall, and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Dissecting the Hindu Chauvinism in India's COVID-19 Response, Pranav Kohli and Prannv Dhawan
Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich Urges 'a New Sense of Solidarity' in face of COVID-19 pandemic, Alan Krashesky and Ross Weidner
Mikvah Update, Chanie Krasnianski and Chabad Upper East Side
Ethics and Religion Talk: Addressing fears in the COVID-19 crisis, David J.B. Krishef and The Rapidian
UP to AP, What’s Stopping India’s Temples and Mosques from Closing Down Due to COVID-19, Pia Krishnankut
How to Feed Crowds in a Protest or Pandemic? The Sikhs Know, Priya Krishna
Carmelite Nuns Announce Cancelation Of Carmelite Fair Due To COVID-19, KSL TV
Religious Leaders Use Lamont’s Coronavirus Event to Rail Against Racial Injustice, Ben Lambert and Ken Dixon
Buddhist Responses to COVID in Lumbini, Nepal, Amy Langenberg and The Jivaka Project
The Buddhist Chaplains on the Front Lines of the Pandemic, Joanne Laurence