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
American Muslims and COVID-19, Amir Hussain and Clare Castro
How Religions and Religious Leaders can Help to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic: Indonesia's experience, Hakimul Ikhwan, Vissia Ita Yulianto, and Medical Xpress
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
COVID-19: Management of the dead from a Hinduism perspective, International Committee of the Red Cross
Management of the Dead from a Buddhist Perspective, International Committee of the Red Cross
Hinduism & Coronavirus: How the digital becomes sacred, Rebecca Irons
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
‘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
'It's Carnage': Crematoriums run around the clock to meet demand from Coronavirus, Rick Jervis
Cincinnati Community Mikveh, Jewish Federation Cincinnati
Passover in the Age of COVID-19: A guide, Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
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
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
25 Jewish Things to Do Under Quarantine, Kate Kaput
How Religious Communities are Modifying Traditions to Prevent Coronavirus Spread, Harmeet Kaur
Pandemic Prompts Surge in Interest in Prayer, Google Data Show, Jordan Kelly-Linden
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
Washing (Ghusl) of Coronavirus Victim, Abdur Rahman Khan
COVID-19 Is a Devil Testing Organized Religion, Ed Kilgor
'Every Step You Take is Prayer': As coronavirus spreads, women lead virtual dance for healing, Dan Kraker
Mikvah Update, Chanie Krasnianski and Chabad Upper East Side
UP to AP, What’s Stopping India’s Temples and Mosques from Closing Down Due to COVID-19, Pia Krishnankut
Social Distance Powwow Sends Prayers, Goes Viral, Rima Krisst
Practicing Islam in the time of COVID-19, Ahmad Kutty, Faisal Kutty, and The Star
Buddhist Responses to COVID in Lumbini, Nepal, Amy Langenberg and The Jivaka Project
God and COVID-19, David Lawler
Mass to Resume Wednesday at Wichita Catholic Churches, with Coronavirus Precautions, Dion Lefler
Across Africa, COVID-19 Heightens Tension Between Faith and Science, Amanda Lichtenstein, Rosemary Ajayi, and Nwachukwu Egbunike
Protection Without Punishment: Turning to Buddhist gods during Covid-19, Bryan Lowe and The Immanent Frame
An Advent Lament in the Pandemic, Michael Luo
Mosques to Remain Closed Until Further Notice, Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
London Coronavirus: Why the city's busiest mosque is still open for prayers, Danielle Manning
'It's Going to Be a Lot More Lonely.' A Dramatically Different Ramadan for U.S. Muslims Amid Coronavirus Lockdowns, Sanya Mansoor
What Religion Can Offer in the Response to COVID-19, Katherine Marshall and World Politics Review
With Bird Sacrifices and Chants, Cuba's Santeria seek Protection from Coronavirus, Sarah Marsh
Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: 100,000 deaths, religion and the future of work, Michel Martin
COVID-19 Update, Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh Paula Brody & Family Education Center
South Koreans Mark Buddha Birthday Celebrations Amid COVID-19, Rob McBride
Quarantine and Expulsion in Early Tibet: Reflections on the Padmasambhava Legend in the Age of the Coronavirus, William A. McGrath and Society For Cultural Anthropology
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
With a Worsening Pandemic, California Bans Singing in Places of Worship, Alexandra Meeks
Rocky Mountain Nuns Rise Above COVID-19, Marty Metzger
Mid America Dharma Responds to COVID-19, Mid America Dharma
Latest Status Update From MBT, Midwest Buddhist Temple
Latest Status Update from MBT, Midwest Buddhist Temple
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
How are Religious Groups Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic?, Jenesse Miller
Seeking God in Times of Pain: A collection of inter-faith prayers for enduring the COVID-19 struggle, Milwaukee Independent
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
Wisconsin Muslims see Ramadan as a Time for Family Bonding, Reflection, Nusaiba Mizan
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
COVID-19 Restricts Africa's Ramadan Routine, Issac Mugabi
Will Religion Post-Covid-19 be More Personal, Less Communal?, Mohammad Alami Musa
Patience, Sacrifice and Zakat: An Islamic response to coronavirus, Iqbal Nasim and Al Jazeera Media Network
Cremation & Burial, National Funeral Directors Association
Visitations & Funerals, National Funeral Directors Association
NYPD Cracks Down on Another Large Jewish Funeral in Brooklyn, Stoking Tensions, NBC New York
Muslims Around The World Face A Different Kind Of Ramadan, Scott Neuman
Indigenous Americans Must Not Once Again Pay the Price for the Mistakes of Others, Bryan Newland
Religion and the COVID-19 Virus in the U.S., Frank Newport
Welcome to Myogyoji Temple, Nichiren Shoshu: Myogyoji Temple
Places of Worship Try to Keep the Faith During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Courtney Norris
Overarching Guidance for Religious Gatherings/Observances/Worship, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; VEST Unified Command Health Equity Work Group; and Commonwealth of Virginia
'We're Trying to Do All that We Can': COVID-19 upends tradition during religious holidays, Mary Jo Ola
Is the Mikveh Safe From COVID-19? Some Women Opt for the Ocean, Kelsey Osgood
Sacraments during COVID-19, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
Haiti Voodoo Leaders Prepare Temples for Coronavirus Sufferers, Andre Paultre and Robenson Sanon
Ramadan: COMOG urges Muslims to seek Allah's intervention to lift COVID-19 on humanity, Peace FM Online
Religious Services and COVID-19: How the Midwest is adapting, JD Pelegrino, Leo McGrath, and Samantha Jones
COVID Wakes the Young to Prayer, Catherine Pepinster
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
Traditions, Interrupted, Dan Peterson and Anchor FM
How COVID-19 is Changing Passover, Easter and Ramadan Observances, Shanley Pierce and Elaine Howard Ecklund
Prayer and Funeral Issues Pertaining to COVID-19, Yasir Qadhi, Fiqh Council of North America, and Islamic Society of North America
Cloistered Minnesota Nuns Share Thoughts on Handling social Isolation, John Reinan
Stonehenge to Livestream its Summer Solstice Celebration for First Time in History, Mary Shaw Roberts
How Are Major Religions Responding to the Coronavirus?, Kali Robinson
“Homeshuling” Under Quarantine: Fun Jewish videos for virtual learning, Rebecca Rosenthal and Stephanie Fink
How is COVID-19 Impacting Religion in America?, David H. Rosmarin and Berkley Center- Georgetown University
Children’s Minnesota Celebrates Ramadan During COVID-19, Alexandra Rothstein
She got Coronavirus at a Funeral and Died. Her Family Honored Her with a Drive-Up Service, Susanne Rust and Carolyn Cole
In Cambodia, a Spiritual Army Battles an Earthly Pandemic, Jade Sacker
Buddhist Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Historical Perspective, C. Pierce Salguero
Join in Chanting for the Well-Being and Healing of All Those Affected by the Pandemic, San Francisco Zen Center
13 Hours, 22 Bodies: The long, lonesome shift of a crematory worker in the heat of COVID-19, Rich Schapiro
5 Buddhist Teachings that Can Help You Deal With Coronavirus Anxiety, Brooke Schedneck
Thai Buddhist Responses to Covid-19, Brooke Schedneck and The Jivaka Project