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
Harder to Find Hope as Clergy get Latest SC COVID-19 Data and Projections, Brad Bloom
Why the Supreme Court Cited the Doctrine and Covenants in this Week’s Key Religious Liberty Decision, Hal Boyd
Beloved Nun, Educator Loses Battle with COVID-19, Gina Christian
Catholic Homeschool Resources, Diocese of Kalamazoo
After Lobbying, Catholic Church Won $1.4 Billion in Coronavirus Aid, Reese Dunklin and Michael Rezendes,
The Kano COVID-19 Deaths: Forced relocations and disinformation creates widespread confusion (Part II), Nwachukwu Egbunike and Global Voices
WMU Researchers Creating National Database of Religious Response to COVID-19, Erin Flynn
An Imam Leads His Congregation Through the Pandemic, Eliza Griswald
The Right to Worship: Church and state clash over religious services in the coronavirus era, Laura Hancock
WMU Team Creates National Database to Document How Religious Groups are Handling COVID-19, Tarvarious Haywood
Jewish Sleepaway Camp Operators Sue Over Coronavirus Closures, Rick Karlin
Defying State Closure Mandates, Some Religious Private Schools Fight to Stay Open During Coronavirus Spread, Zoë Kirsch
Stuck in Nepal: Weathering the COVID-19 pandemic in a Buddhist monastery, Mark McLemore
Connection in a Time of Social Isolation: Here's what synagogue life looks like right now, Audrey Merwin
Watch: In Los Angeles, Catholic Schools Plan to Resume In-Person Classes, While Public Schools Go Online, Alejandra Molina
Will Religion Post-Covid-19 be More Personal, Less Communal?, Mohammad Alami Musa
Small, Private Colleges Get Boost From Coronavirus Relief Funds, Elissa Nadworny and Diane Adame
10 Tips for Teaching Religion Lessons to Your Children at Home, Joe Paprocki
Catholic Schools are Reeling: Coronavirus has dealt a massive blow to religious educational institutions, Kathleen Porter-Magee
COVID-19 Crisis Provides Opportunities and Grace, Thomas Reese
“Homeshuling” Under Quarantine: Fun Jewish videos for virtual learning, Rebecca Rosenthal and Stephanie Fink
Religious Education in a Time of Coronavirus, Heidi Schlumpf
Congregations, Other Faith Groups Receive Millions in Federal Aid, Peter Smith
Texas: Religious schools can ignore local health officials on the coronavirus, Valerie Strauss
Student Religious Liberty Bill Passes Senate, Heads Back to House with COVID-19 Amendments, Susan Tebben
Everything We Know About the Eastern Oregon Church at the Center of State’s Largest Coronavirus Outbreak, Celina Tebor
ACF Native American COVID-19 Resources; Administration for Native Americans, The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Buddhism in the Pandemic, The Jivaka Project
We Joined a Ramadan Celebration in Animal Crossing, Dexter Thomas
The White Way, Toshiyuki Umitani, Candace, Donna Higashi, and Moiliili Hongwanji Mission
JAINA Newsletter : Corona Virus, Jain Center News, Six Dravyas of Jainism, etc..., Mahesh Wadher
Religious Education Continues in Different Format During COVID-19 Pandemic, Carol Zimmermann and The Dialog