The role of religious institutions to combat the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic

By Shahid Akhter 20 April 2020

The devastating infectious diseases COVID-19 that outbreak unprecedentedly across the globe, crossing boundaries of all sorts and put all level of health systems to a crucial test. Almost 2.3 million people are infected, and more than 1.6 lakh people have died. The international boundaries of all countries and transportation within the country are entirely cut off. The backbone of the economy in all countries is shattered. From the renowned health organizations to generals, all are inflicted to discover the vaccination for this invisible pathogen.

While government administrations, scientific bodies, and health institutions relentlessly fighting with pandemic crises to build a strong public health system, the role of religious institutions and spiritual capitals in terms of accountability is being seen docile. In human history, theological contestation in the occurrence of disaster is not new. From a small scale disaster to a massive catastrophe, the theological discourse ended up with only single causes of it that are the divine energy. The bubonic plague pandemic in 1348, which had killed 50 million people or perished over 60 percent of Europe’s entire population, was considered as the attribution of divine action. And, the great Lisbon earthquake that had caused almost 75 thousand people deaths in 1755 and the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, which had affected 500 million and caused by 50 million people deaths worldwide were also labeled as a demonstration of God’s wrath. Therefore, it has often been a question in every colossal disaster that how could an omnibenevolent God have sanctioned the deaths of so many innocent people?

The eighteenth-century many philosophers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Immanuel Kant, John Von Gothe, Adam Smith, etc. were laid out their contention over God’s role in the Great Lisbon earthquake and claimed that consequences of disasters are due to human activity rather than functions of nature or resentment of God. For example, the people who died in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Fukushima earthquake-induced tsunami was because of living in low lying coastal zones and also ignoring the warnings to flee the tsunami. Similarly, Hurricane Katrina should not be blamed for deaths in New Orleans, but people’s actions and a large number of flaws that had been embedded in the system. Each of these claims falls short of upholding credibility, when several such blame, are examined.

The involvement of God of any disaster as a punishment of people’s sin can only add pain to those who already devastated by the disaster, and it always remains a part of strong criticism in the theological sphere.

Despite restriction and strong warning on congregations and maintaining physical distance to contain the outbreak of deadly biological pathogen COVID-19, various religious groups across the world defied the containment and organized the huge social gathering. For instance, a Louisiana pastor ignored the state order and held a church service with hundreds of people. Almost twenty-five thousand people gathered in Bangladesh to pray to God to get rid of the country of the pandemic. Similarly, three thousand Tablighi jamaat came from different parts of the world. It converged in Delhi, and also thousands of devotees assembled on the occasion of Ram Navami in various parts of the country demonstrate the firm affiliation of people with the religious faith. Such a core religious belief system is undeniably detrimental to the goal of controlling the outbreak of this contagious disease.

However, religious institutions, especially local temples, churches, mosques, congregations, and synagogues, could play a significant role in building a resilient society to combat the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. All these premises, including religious schools, seminaries, and colleges, can be used as quarantine or clinic centers to cut expenses of constructing new. More than that, religious places play a critical role in the spiritual, mental, and physical services and can provide social, educational, and emotional strength to the surrounding communities.

The study says that 85% of the world’s population has faith in religion, and in many cases, religion occupies a central place in their lives. It is a significant component to strengthen the psychological resilience of the personal and community in the face of a disaster crisis. It encourages people to assist the sick, the poor, the orphans, the oppressed, or those who wreck by the disaster.

For example, the response of Christian-based organization to mitigate the plague epidemic during the Roman Empire, and the support of the faith-based organization to recover the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 are remarkable evidence in the religious landscape. Further, in 2014, the cooperation of religious communities with the public health initiatives in regulating and operationalizing the outbreak of Ebola is highly acknowledgeable. Either it is natural events or human-induced disasters, such instances of religious roles in managing disasters are very common.
In the present crisis, forging collaboration of religious institutions with the government-initiated public health system and other activities can lead to myriad improvements in addressing the pandemic associated emergencies at national, regional, and local levels. The religious leaders/preachers of all local communities are often more trusted locally and having higher outreach to the people than government officials or other leaders.

Subsequently, local faith leaders are considered key actors in peacebuilding initiatives and the development of a community-based disaster management system. They can play a crucial role in executing and distributing essentials materials supplied by the government or various organizations among the neediest ones in society.

Across the country, millions of people are suffering in hunger and starvation due to the nationwide lockdown; in such fluid situations, these leaders can have an immediate response by reaching out to them with satisfactory solutions. It is immensely needed for all religious leaders and faith-based organizations to build-up strong solidarity. It takes responsibility for endorsing the community’s people about the escalation of deadly pathogens rather than looking backward and speculating about why God accorded COVID-19.