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
Are COVID-19 Restrictions Inflaming Religious Tensions?, Geneive Abdo and Anna L. Jacobs
Rethinking Mikvah Attendance in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Carmella Abraham
'It’s a very different Ramadan': How coronavirus has upended ancient rituals, Gay Alcorn
COVID-19 and Islamic Burial Laws: Safeguarding dignity of the dead, Ahmed Al-Dawoody and Oran Finegan
Saudi Arabia to Hold 'Very Limited' Hajj Due to Coronavirus, Al Jazeera and News Agencies
Even as Coronavirus Keeps us from Churches, Faith Appears to be Growing. Here’s why., Cynthia M. Allen
What Hermits Can Teach Us About Isolation, Hephzibah Anderson
Resources During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Talking Points for Parents: The delay of First Communion, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Praying Together Over Zoom: How religion sounds during a pandemic, Laura Arenschield
Special Report: COVID-19 impacts Chinese Buddhism, state control, and soft power, Yoshiko Ashiwa, David L. Wank, and Religion & Diplomacy
What Islamic Hygienic Practices can Teach When Coronavirus is Spreading, Rose S. Aslan and The Conversation
Michigan Priest Draws Squirt Gun in Fight Against Coronavirus, Associated Press and KUTV
COVID-19 Lockdown Brings Fresher Air, Cleaner Rivers in India, Associated Press and Market Watch
'Social Distance Powwows' Attract Thousands Online, Associated Press and Youtube
Christians and Muslims in Algeria “Maintain Links” Despite Lockdown: Bishop of Constantine, Jude Atemanke
Zen on Zoom: Community meditation moves online, Joan Bailey
Sip from the common cup? On Ash Wednesday, coronavirus and the flu have religious leaders tweaking rituals., Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Virus Lockdown Changes How Hindus Celebrate Holy Period, Biswajeet Banerjee and Gary Fields
National Day of Prayer, Reshaped By Pandemic, Includes Interfaith and Online Events, Adelle M. Banks and Crosswalk.com
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia bars international pilgrims for Hajj, BBC News
India Coronavirus: Amarnath Pilgrimage Cancelled Due to Covid-19, BBC News
To Christians on Communion: Don’t try this at home, Alex Beam
The Social Distance Powwow, Heather Benson, Lori Walsh, and Whitney Recountre II
Rising Religiosity as a Global Response to COVID-19 Fear, Jeanet Bentzen and Vox EU
Do Religious Face Coverings Count as Masks? Your COVID-19 questions answered, Ania Bessonov
Muslims Across U.S. Finding New Ways to Celebrate Eid Amid Coronavirus, Musadiq Bidar
Can you Find God in a Zoom Call? Communities of Faith get Religion on Tech in COVID-19 Crisis, Todd Bishop
Summer Solstice in Michigan 2020, Dawn Black
Boca Raton Community Mikvah: Mikvah form, Boca Raton Community Mikvah
People Perform Puja to Eradicate Coronavirus in Karnataka's Hubballi, Manjunath Hegde Bomnalli
Worship in the Age of Coronavirus: Prayer, elbow bumps, hand sanitizer, Julie Bosman and Mitch Smith
Jewish Law During a Pandemic: The 35 Responsa of Rabbi Hershel Schachter Issued Due to COVID-19, Michael J. Broyde and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Quarantining While Buddhist: ‘It’s more important to be kind than to be right’, Donna Bryson
The Hajj in Times of Epidemics, Marjo Buitelaar
Native Americans Cancel Sun Dances and Other Cultural Ceremonies to Halt Spread of Coronavirus, Andrew Buncombe
The Great Shutdown 2020: What churches, mosques and temples are doing to fight the spread of coronavirus, Daniel Burke
Boko Haram's Shekau Labels Anti-COVID-19 Measures an Attack on Islam in Nigeria, John Campbell
Indiana Funeral Homes Making Restrictions to Protect Employees and Loved Ones During COVID-19 Pandemic, Aaron Cantrell
Quelling Demons and Disease in Japanese Art by Dr. John T. Carpenter, John T. Carpenter, Mary Griggs Burke, and YouTube.com
How One Church Is Handling The Coronavirus Outbreak, Annacaroline Caruso
'Church is more than a building': Chicago's Holy Week services move online during COVID-19 pandemic, Cate Cauguiran
Funeral Guidance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Grief & Loss, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
On Religion: Bethel and Fellow Believers Beneath the Bridge: Thousands flock to Sundial Bridge to worship during a pandemic, Doni Chamberlain
CDC Quickly Changed Its Guidance on Limiting Choirs at Religious Services, Bill Chappell
COVID-19 Messages From the Kelim Mikvah and Mikvah Emunah Society, Cheryl Stern Community Kelim Mikvah and Kemp Mill Synagogue
Cyber Dharma: Celebrating E-Vesak in Singapore, Jack Meng-Tat Chia
Celebrating E-Vesak in Singapore, Jack Meng-Tat Chia and The Jivaka Project
Saudi’s Hajj Cancellation for Covid-19 is Not the First Time a Plague has Disrupted Muslims’ Pilgrimage, Ken Chitwood and Quartz Africa
Praying About World Issues, Christian Science
Michigan’s First Jewish COVID-19 Death, Shari Cohen
Churches Were Eager to Reopen. Now They Are Confronting Coronavirus Cases., Kate Conger, Jack Healy, and Lucy Tompkins
Fudo Myo-o: The enduring power of a wrathful deity, Core Kyoto- NHK World-Japan
Kyoto Amulets: The embodiment of prayers for happiness, Core Kyoto- NHK World-Japan
Protocol for Places of Worship: Appendix F, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health
Indigenous Arizonans Dance with Thousands Around World in Online 'Social Distance' Powwow, Chelsea Curtis
On Religion: Will the church survive COVID-19?, Dane Davis and Daily Press
COVID-19 Cancels the Islamic Pilgrimage, Grounding a Lifelong Dream for Some N.C. Muslims, Anton L. Delgado
Spiritual Houstonians Embrace the Metaphysical During COVID-19, Hannah Dellenger
Spiritual resources during COVID-19, Diocese of Grand Rapids
German Nuns Describe Search for Sacrament During COVID-19 Beyond “Dependence” on Ordained Men, Cameron Doody and Religious Women for Human Dignity
The Pandemic and the Will of God, Ross Douthat
Magic Valley Dairy Days and Pagan Fest Both Move Online This Year Due to Coronavirus Concerns, Tetona Dunlap and Magic Valley
Responses to COVID19 in Buddhist Communities of Contemporary China-Preliminary findings, Daigengna Duoer and The Jivaka Project
COVID-19 Coronavirus Precautions & Best Practices, eCondolence
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
Mikveh Immersion to Prepare for our New Normal after Covid-19, Hannah Estrin
Making Masks, Everglades Moon Local Council
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
Coronavirus Brought Me Back to Reporting on Religion, Lily Fowler
The Coronavirus Will Upend My Grandmother’s 50-Year Passover Tradition. But We Stay Apart So We Can Be Together, Lori Fradkin
Coronavirus is Changing the Rituals of Death for Many Religions, Lauren Frayer, Daniel Estrin, and Jane Arraf
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
Clinical Study Considers The Power Of Prayer To Combat COVID-19, 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
Grace Community Church-Coronavirus Response, Grace Community Church
Orthodox Jewish Women Are Facing an Impossible Choice Right Now, Emma Green
In the Time of COVID-19, the Cloistered Life Offers Lessons for the World, Rhina Guidos
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
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
For Chicago-Area Muslims Without Traditional Mosque Access, a Remote Ramadan isn’t a New Concept, Nausheen Husain and Javonte Anderson