Between “Essential Services” and Culpable Homicide: State Responses to Religious Organizations and the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus in 2020

Abstract On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared covid -19—the disease caused by the novel coronavirus—a global pandemic. As this coronavirus spread throughout the world, most countries implemented restrictions on public gatherings that greatly limited religious communities’ abilit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Boaz, Danielle N. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2020
In: Journal of law, religion and state
Year: 2020, Volume: 8, Issue: 2/3, Pages: 129-151
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B State / COVID-19 (Disease) / Pandemic / Infection / Protection magic / Religious practice / Publicity / Endangering
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AG Religious life; material religion
CH Christianity and Society
XA Law
ZA Social sciences
ZC Politics in general
Further subjects:B South Korea
B essential services
B Coronavirus
B United States
B Brazil
B Religious Freedom
B India
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Description
Summary:Abstract On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared covid -19—the disease caused by the novel coronavirus—a global pandemic. As this coronavirus spread throughout the world, most countries implemented restrictions on public gatherings that greatly limited religious communities’ ability to engage in collective worship. Some religious leaders objected to these regulations, opining that faith would spare their congregants from illness or that their religious freedom is paramount to public health. Meanwhile, growing numbers of covid -19 infections were being traced back to religious leaders or gatherings. This article explores how governments have balanced freedom of worship and public health during the 2020 pandemic. Through the comparison of controversies in South Korea, India, Brazil and the United States, it highlights the paradoxes in debates about whether to hold religious communities accountable for the spread of this highly contagious and deadly disease.
ISSN:2212-4810
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of law, religion and state
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/22124810-2020008