An Analysis of God's Role During the Coronavirus Pandemic

This essay delves into the complex relationship between God and the coronavirus pandemic, examining how different religions have responded to the crisis. It explores the shift in religious practices, particularly among Muslims, due to social distancing measures and the closure of places of worship. The essay highlights the perspectives of religious leaders and the impact of the pandemic on individuals' faith and mental health, emphasizing the importance of God during times of crisis. It references news articles from ABC News, America Magazine, and The New York Times, providing a comprehensive overview of the issue and its implications on religious beliefs and practices worldwide. The essay also emphasizes the importance of maintaining social distancing and the government's role in ensuring public safety while acknowledging the significance of faith for many individuals.

Running head: GOD AND CORONAVIRUS
God and Coronavirus
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1GOD AND CORONAVIRUS
The issue of coronavirus and gripped the entire globe. People all over the world are
panicking as no science exist as of yet which would be able to tackle the pandemic and save the
lives of the individuals who have already been affected. Almost all the societies have been
affected by this virus without a reliable mechanism on how to resolve the issue. Amidst all of
this, the issue of religion and God has come to the fore front as science and religion are
considered to be the two sides of the same coin.
The different religions of the globe look at the societies through two specific angles. The
first lens is between the Creator, which is God and His creation, which is the living beings on
Earth (ABC News, 2020). The second lens is more horizontal in nature where the relationship
explored is among the different individuals of the communities themselves. With the onset of
coronavirus, also termed as COVID 19 pandemic, a substantial shift can be noticed in the
horizontal angle whereby the relationship has changed significantly among the individuals and
the ritual worships that they adhere to (ABC News, 2020). However, the Muslim religious heads
have assured their followers that the relationship between God and His subjects have remained
the same even if it is considered to have changed in the difficult times. The onset of the
coronavirus pandemic has led to the changes in the way the rituals are performed, particularly the
prayers which are offered by the Muslim population. The authorities around the world have
called for social distancing which means that an individual should maintain at least one meter
distance from the others while in a public place (ABC News, 2020). This adversely affects the
Muslim prayers as a large gathering is essential for offering such prayers in the mosques.
Another piece of news have also tried to understand the relationship between God and
coronavirus. Many places of worship have been closed down as a result of the pandemic. The
Houses of God are no longer accessible to either the local population or to the foreign tourists of

2GOD AND CORONAVIRUS
Italy, Japan and South Korea among a host of other nations ("Opinion | God vs. Coronavirus",
2020). Thus, the focus of the government is to ensure that a safe distance is maintained among
the individuals of the society so as to ensure that the virus does not transmit among the people.
Since the places of religious worships are places of mass gatherings, they were the first to be
targeted by the governmental authorities. Tis is in compliance with the religious teachings of the
various religions since God wants humanity to save themselves first before adhering to their
religious scriptures and rituals.
However, it needs to be noted that the pandemic set as a result of the spread of
coronavirus has led to rise in anxiety levels of many individuals around the world. Many of these
individuals seek comfort in their religions and religious teachings ("Faith in the time of
Coronavirus", 2020). The closing of such religious places are greatly affecting their mental
health as they do not have the means to seek that level of comfort anymore. Thus, it needs to be
noted that God is necessary for people of faith even in times of crisis.

3GOD AND CORONAVIRUS
References:
ABC News. (2020). Drawing near to God amid the coronavirus pandemic. ABC Religion &
Ethics. Retrieved 31 March 2020, from https://www.abc.net.au/religion/islam-drawing-
near-to-god-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/12077014.
Faith in the time of Coronavirus. America Magazine. (2020). Retrieved 31 March 2020, from
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/13/faith-time-coronavirus.
Opinion | God vs. Coronavirus. Nytimes.com. (2020). Retrieved 31 March 2020, from
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/opinion/coronavirus-church-religion.html.