The Changing Role of Religion in Societies Emerging from Covid-19
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Social Sci, Edu & Social Work
Abstract
The role of religion has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking on renewed significance in many societies, including those experiencing secularisation. Religious practice and interest in spirituality has increased globally, and faith leaders have been identified as 'key workers' in many countries, in recognition of their important roles in burying the dead, comforting the grieving, and ministering to the sick. While some religious groups have defied lockdown restrictions or opposed vaccines, others have worked with governments and civic groups to promote resilience and inclusion. Building on initial findings from single-country contexts, we compare the changing role of majority and minority religions in 'global north' contexts: Canada, Germany, Ireland/Northern Ireland (UK), and Poland; asking whether or to what extent religions are contributing to the building of more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies. We comparatively analyse majority (Christian) and minority (Islam and others) religions' roles in three key areas: 1) Constructing discourses around health, illness and science, including promoting the observance (or not) of lockdown restrictions and public health measures like vaccines; 2) Lobbying and liaising with governments and policymakers, including how religious and inter-religious groups have contributed to debates emerging from the pandemic, like addressing inequalities and mental health issues; and 3) Incorporating digital innovations like blended online/in-person approaches to religious practice, and how this is impacting equality and inclusion within religious groups (urban/rural, age, and people with disabilities). Ultimately, the study will draw general conclusions about factors that affect how religious actors frame issues of health, illness and science, how relationships between religion and the state have been transformed in the context of the pandemic, and whether or how religious adaptations to the digital world have taken account of inclusion and other ethical issues.
Organisations
- Queen's University Belfast (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Bremen (Collaboration)
- University of Zurich (Project Partner)
- Institute for Catholic Church Statistics (Project Partner)
- Religion Media Centre (Project Partner)
- Ruhr University Bochum (Project Partner)
- Canadian Centre for Ecumenism (Project Partner)
- Interfaith Consultation Table (Project Partner)
- Irish Council of Churches (Project Partner)
Publications
Kolodziejska, M.
(2023)
Religions and Technologies during Covid-19: Findings from Poland
Ni Dhonaill C.
(2023)
Publications by religious organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland
Ni Dhonaill, C.
(2023)
Religions and Technologies during Covid-19: Findings from Ireland/Northern Ireland
Description | Religion in Societies Emerging from Covid: Ireland |
Amount | £21,285 (GBP) |
Organisation | Porticus |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Global |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 07/2023 |
Description | Creation of International Network: 'Religion and Covid-19 Research Projects' |
Organisation | University of Bremen |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have organized an international network of 'religion and Covid-19' research projects, which met for the first time during the European Association for the Study of Religions conference, Vilnius, September 2023, see: https://covirel.uni-bremen.de/ |
Collaborator Contribution | We have provided the initial organization and a social media infrastructure for communication (listserv, Facebook, X) |
Impact | General communication and cooperation among academics. We have not listed all the universities and research projects which avail of our communication channels. University of Bermen is listed as the main collaborator because it hosts the website. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Interview about Religion in Societies Emerging from Covid-19 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with Gladys Ganiel on BBC Radio Ulster's Sunday Sequence programme, outlining results of research so far and informing public of questionnaire soliciting public opinion about the role of religion during the pandemic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001wx70 |
Description | Launch of engagement-focused project website & social media channels |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In August 2022 we launched the project website and social media sites (Twitter, Facebook). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | https://recov19.uni-bremen.de/ |
Description | Newspaper coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Newspaper report on the research project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/researchers-ask-how-pandemic-affected-religion-in-ir... |
Description | Newspaper coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Newspaper report on the research project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/queens-university-asks-people-to-respond-to-an-island-wide-su... |
Description | Project Launch Panel: How Did Covid Change Religion in Society? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Around thirty people from academia, churches, and other third sector organisations attended a launch and panel discussion about the research project, featuring the investigators Prof Gladys Ganiel of Queen's University, Professor Solange Lefebvre of the University of Montreal, Professor Kerstin Radde-Antweiler of Bremen University, and Professor Slawomir Mandes of Warsaw University. There is a video of the project launch at the URL below. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://recov19.uni-bremen.de/index.php/2022/08/30/video-of-project-launch-at-queens-university-in-b... |
Description | Radio Interview about Religion Emerging from Covid |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Prof Gladys Ganiel of Queen's University was interviewed about the research project on BBC Radio Ulster's Sunday Sequence programme, 4 September. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Religion Media Centre coverage of research project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Media report on the main aims of the research project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/academics-ask-how-did-covid-change-religion-in-society/ |
Description | Religions and Digital Media during Covid-19: Findings from Canada, Germany, Ireland/Northern Ireland, and Poland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | A primarily academic audience provided feedback on the results presented, in a public roundtable at the University of Bremen. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |