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
WMU Team Creates National Database to Document How Religious Groups are Handling COVID-19, Tarvarious Haywood
Wayne County Volunteers Feed Hundreds of Families During Pandemic Thousands of pounds of food distributed to low-income Metro Detroit families in need, Grant Hermes and Cassidy Johncox
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
Balancing Religious Freedoms and Public Health Protections During the COVID-19 Pandemic, James G. Hodge Jr., Hanna Reinke, and Claudia Reeves
Muslims, Jews Have Higher COVID Death Rate, UK figures Indicate, Michael Holden and Mark Heinrich
Physicians and Healers: A traditional perspective on COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS), Walt Hollow; Richard Two Dogs; Chris Tall Bear; David Begay; Miguel Flores, Jr.; and Michelle Kahn-John
Native Healing Dance Offers Comfort During Crisis, Paige Hopkins
American Muslims and COVID-19, Amir Hussain and Clare Castro
Funeral Homes Guidance, Illinois Department of Public Health
COVID-19 Guidance for Funeral Homes and Directors, Indiana State Department of Health
COVID 19, Institute of Jainology
Guidance for Spiritual and Religious Gatherings During COVID-19, Iowa Department of Public Health
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
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
Passover in the Age of COVID-19: A guide, Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Coronavirus Community Resources, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
‘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
42 COVID Cases Linked to Christian Youth Camp in Gladwin County, Heather Jordan
Is it Safe for Patients With COVID-19 to Fast in Ramadan?, Asli Kalin, Ammad Mahmood, Salman Waqar, Asim Yusuf, Nazim Ghouri, Naveed Sattar, and Tahseen Chowdhury
DOJ: Mayor de Blasio Favored Protests Over Religious Freedoms During COVID-19 Shutdown, Paula Katinas
Religious Leaders Thank Pence for Flexibility to Reopen but Urge Caution, KCRG-TV
Inside the Fringe Japanese Religion That Claims It Can Cure Covid-19, Sam Kestenbaum
Washing (Ghusl) of Coronavirus Victim, Abdur Rahman Khan
Muslim Groups Join Forces to Raise $500,000 for Coronavirus Relief Grants, Aysha Khan
Did the Quran Mention COVID-19 Pandemic? Medical and Sanitary Prophylaxis of this Disease, T. Khenenou, S. Laabed, O. Laabed, and Journal of Medical Biomedical and Applied Sciences
COVID-19 Is a Devil Testing Organized Religion, Ed Kilgor
Religion Helps Protect Against ‘Deaths of Despair’: Study, Kimmy and Steven Reinberg
Funeral Homes Adapt Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Michael Krafcik
'Every Step You Take is Prayer': As coronavirus spreads, women lead virtual dance for healing, Dan Kraker
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
How to Feed Crowds in a Protest or Pandemic? The Sikhs Know, Priya Krishna
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
Mass to Resume Wednesday at Wichita Catholic Churches, with Coronavirus Precautions, Dion Lefler
Religion and Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19, Jeff Levin and Berkley Center- Georgetown University
Senior Thai Monk Offers a Buddhist Perspective on Dealing with COVID-19, Craig Lewis and Somboon Chungprampree
St. Louis Black Churches Consider Ways To Keep Congregants Safe In Midst Of Coronavirus, Marissanne Lewis-Thompson
Plague and Punishment: When religion sided with science as a lesson for enduring, Phillip I. Lieberman, Milwaukee Independent, and The Conversation
Midnight Ruling Exposes Rifts at a Supreme Court Transformed by Trump, Adam Liptak
'It's Going to Be a Lot More Lonely.' A Dramatically Different Ramadan for U.S. Muslims Amid Coronavirus Lockdowns, Sanya Mansoor
Church of God Denomination Facing Significant COVID-19 Outbreak; leaders won't say how many infected, Wyatt Massey
On Religion: ‘Called’ to work on coronavirus front lines, Terry Mattingly and The Ukiah Daily Journal
Promoting Mental Health During and After COVID-19: Tools for faith leaders, Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC- City of New York
COVID-19 Update, Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh Paula Brody & Family Education Center
Dancing Between Light and Shadow – Increasing Awareness of the Impact of Covid 19 Disparities on Jews of Color, Yavilah McCoy and Jewish Philanthropy
Jentezen Franklin, Trump Adviser and Prominent Georgia Pastor, Tests Positive for COVID-19, Emily McFarlan Miller
Japanese Religious Responses to COVID-19: A preliminary report, Levi McLaughlin and The Asia-Pacific Journal
Japanese Religious Responses to COVID-19: A preliminary report, Levi McLaughlin and The Asia-Pacific Journal
Buddhist Responses to COVID-19 in Japan, Levi McLaughlin and The Jivaka Project
Ahead of Trump Visit, Church Makes Unproven Claim of Virus-Killing Technology, Jennifer Medina and Kenneth Chang
Meharry Medical College Partners with Black Churches to Expand COVID-19 Testing, Reduce Barriers, Holly Meyer
Important Information About the Wallerstein Mikvah and COVID-19, Mikvah Emunah Society of Greater Washington
Drive-Thru Communion? Remote Consecration? COVID-19 Sparks Eucharistic Experimentation – And theological debate, Egan Millard and David Paulsen
What is Death?, B J. Miller and The New York Times
As Depression, Anxiety, Grief Spike During Pandemic and Protest, Churches Offer Hope, Mental Health Resources, Emily McFarlan Miller
Guidance for Gatherings: Faith-based communities, places of worship, and ceremonies, Minnesota Department of Health
India's Media Must Promote Science, Not Superstition, in COVID-19 Fight, Raoof Mir and Nikkei Asian Review
Religion as a Health Promoter During the 2019/2020 COVID Outbreak: View from Detroit, Stephen M. Modell and Sharon L.R. Kardia
God Doesn’t Want Us to Sacrifice the Old, Russell Moore and The New York Times
Saudi Arabia Must Suspend the Hajj: The presence of millions of pilgrims in Mecca and Medina will have lethal consequences., Ebrahim Moosa
Michigan Tightens Time Frame for Handling Body After Death Amid Pandemic, Darcie Moran
California limits church capacity to 25% for reopening, adds other restrictions, Monte Morin
COVID-19 Restricts Africa's Ramadan Routine, Issac Mugabi
Programs Which Foster Dignity and Hope in the Sacred Process of All Life- COVID-19 Update, Ann Nagle
Patience, Sacrifice and Zakat: An Islamic response to coronavirus, Iqbal Nasim and Al Jazeera Media Network
Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, Rev. Sharpton Calls Upon Faith Leaders to Discontinue Services Leading Into Easter, National Action Network
Cremation & Burial, National Funeral Directors Association
Indigenous Americans Must Not Once Again Pay the Price for the Mistakes of Others, Bryan Newland
Ancient Vaccine for Covid-19, Joachim NG and The Sun Daily
Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Black Churches Aid Free Testing, Chris Norris and The Philadelphia Tribune
This Week in Mormon Land: High hopes for missionaries, a COVID-19 warning, and more scrutiny on race, David Noyce
San Antonio Food Bank Benefits from Sikh Philosophy of ‘Selflessness’, Tom Orsborn
'A Dangerous Environment': As churches reopen, outbreaks are sprouting and some are keeping doors shut, Jorge L. Ortiz
'A Dangerous Environment': As churches reopen, outbreaks sprout and some keep doors shut, Jorge L. Ortiz
Is the Mikveh Safe From COVID-19? Some Women Opt for the Ocean, Kelsey Osgood
Coronavirus: 'Religion helped me through lockdown', Manish Pandey
Foundations’ Plan: $1,000 each for 1,000 nuns to allay COVID-19 impacts, Mark Pattison
Haiti Voodoo Leaders Prepare Temples for Coronavirus Sufferers, Andre Paultre and Robenson Sanon
COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Places of worship and providers of religious services and cultural ceremonies, Kaina Pereira, California Department of Public Health, and Cal/OSHA
Campers Test Positive for COVID-19 After Attending Evangelical Youth Camp in Texas, Kathryn Post
Jehovah’s Witnesses move global conventions online amid COVID-19 pandemic, Kathryn Post
Flouting Social Distancing Guidelines, Crowd in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar Gathers on Street to Welcome Group of Jain Monks, Press Trust of India and First Post
Social Welfare and the Coronavirus Crisis: A Buddhist Perspective, Tavivat Puntarigvivat and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Toward a Religious Ethic of Social Equity Through Maximum Productivity in a Post-Pandemic Era, Carl Raschke and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
COVID-19 Crisis Provides Opportunities and Grace, Thomas Reese
Cloistered Minnesota Nuns Share Thoughts on Handling social Isolation, John Reinan
US Must Continue to Fund WHO, Religions For Peace USA