Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 has impacted religion in various ways, including the cancellation of the worship services of various faiths.

Quotes

• Not all branches of faith go as far as handling snakes, but they’re all rooted in the one miracle that overrides our intellect. That’s why, as a young, idealistic Christian who only wanted to grow in my faith, I was prayed over to sever me from my intellectual and rational thinking.
  This global pandemic has revealed there’s already a virus inside some American forms of belief — ones that believe God isn’t powerful enough to exist outside of gatherings or ones who believe this is in God’s plan so he can show his power.
  This kind of spiritual terrorism is showing up on a national scale and, as in my own faith journey, only reason can get us out.
  • Karen Alea, “I Was An Evangelical Christian, And I Know Why Many Of Them Resist Logic About COVID-19”, Huffington Post (17 September 2020)

• The Satan is using this opportunity as it has always done to lead us astray from our religious duties in the name of precautions, treatment and protection. Whenever a calamity strikes, Satan makes the victims of calamity commit such acts which destroy their rewards and add to their woes. This is the time to populate the mosques and to invite the ummah towards repentance. As I have already said, this is the time to make our supplications effective. This is not the time to pay heed to false remedial measures….
  • Statement by Muhammad Saad Kandhlawi the emir of Tablighi Jamaat, March 22, 2020. Transcription and translation from Urdu by New Age Islam, 5 April 2020