Items

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  2020-03-26

  God Doesn’t Want Us to Sacrifice the Old

  This article was written by Rusell Moore, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. in this article is stated to learn during this pandemic not only the survival but to also focus on other than yourself. people are suffereing because the pandemic has not hit a certain wealth status but over all, rich poor, young or old families or inviduals. Moore suggested to take away from this pandemic how to love your neighbours as yourself. also she reminds us that every life is vulnerable at this time not only us.
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  2020-04-16

  India hospital segregates Muslim and Hindu coronavirus patients

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  2020-04-13

  Their Calling Was to Lay Hands on the Sick. Then Came the Coronavirus.

  This article is about how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the lives and ministry in total for 8 Manhattan Friars. The brothers are used to doing things in common. They pray twice a day, eat, and do everything together. With social distancing being put into effect in the NY area, all their normal routines are being challenged. What gives them faith is that the Catholic Funeral Liturgy says, “Life hasn’t ended, it has changed.”
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  2020-04-12

  How Spain is marking Semana Santa in the time of Covid-19

  This article talks about how Spain is finding alternative ways to celebrate Easter Sunday. Spain has been devastated by the Coronovirus just like many other countries. Spain is using this Easter as a rebirth of the country.
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  2020-03-13

  COVID-19 Upends American Religious Life

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  2020-04-12

  Americans spend grim Easter Sunday at home as COVID-19 deaths near 22,000

  This article is about how many different people are adjusting their Easter plans due to COVID-19. Some are using the internet for church services, while others are simply putting crosses outside their homes. A few are even defying the stay-at-home order and still attending church services. Some people are fighting against the shutdown of church gatherings through legal battles.
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  2020-04-10

  See religions around the world adapt in the age of coronavirus

  Due to the mayhem following the coronavirus pandemic that has been occurring worldwide, “religious leaders have had to find creative ways to bring their services and communities together” according to Adam Jeffery with the CNBC. Throughout the article, Jeffrey displayed how all around the world religious leaders have thought of very innovative ways to keep their followers still involved in the church and to try to keep communities as together as possible. In Austria, the catholic priest Johannes Laichner is “circulating incense over the photographs of members of his congregation” (Jeffery, 2020). In places like Bowie, Maryland, Rv. Scott Holmer risks his life to go outside and “make the sign of a cross while holding confession in the church parking lot” (Jeffery, 2020). In Israel, Ultra-Orthodoc Jews still show their faithfulness to their house of worship as they “pray along a street outside their closed synagogue while respecting the social distancing regulations'' (Jeffery, 2020). Places all over the world are still keeping their faith in the higher power they believe in during such a sad and crazy time that we’re living in. Both the people as well as the religious leaders all around are displaying their support for each other in various ways to convey the message that regardless of what may be going on in the world, the higher power is still the answer and we’re in this together.
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  2020-04-16

  Hindu Nationalists Blame Muslims For India's COVID-19 Crisis

  This article discusses the growing tensions between Hindu nationalists and Muslims in India. Hindu's have been blaming many of the problems in Indian society on Muslims and Christian missionaries, but this is another example of them attempting to place the blame on Coronavirus on Muslims. India is ripe for a coronavirus explosion in cases due to the large number of people in these packed together spaces. There are multiple false videos circulating through Whatsapp and other various social media sites like Facebook depicting Muslims spitting and distributing currency and attempting to spread the virus. This video is false. Additionally, there was a massive Islamic conference that helped spread the virus through different parts of the country which has enflared tempers and made the situation worse. On top of the pandemic, India needs to find a way to cool religious tensions or there will be even greater ramifications than the virus. For now, as NPR notes, India needs to focus on the response and figure out how to flag false information on Whatsapp and other social media.
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  2020-04-15

  Do coronavirus social distancing orders violate religious freedom? Local pastors say yes

  This article discusses pastors in various states suing their government over gathering restrictions that are believed to infringe on religious freedom rights. Specifically, Barry McDonald emphasizes that if proper social distancing was maintained, churches may be able to make a case to be considered an essential service.
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  2020-04-12

  In India, Coronavirus Fans Religious Hatred

  Muslim people in India have been the target of brutal attacks, after the Indian Health Ministry blamed the spread of covid-19 in India on the Muslims. People of Islamic faith prior to this virus were already racially and religiously persecuted in India, and this claim is making it even worst. The fact of the matter is that the Health Ministry's claim wasn't wrong. The spread of coronavirus in India can be traced back to one Islamic Seminary. Once they began being attacked and broken up, that group of Islamic worshipers fled all throughout the country, spreading the deadly virus. In an already Muslim-hating country, the prejudice and violence is growing even stronger because of this coronavirus claim.
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  2020-04-01

  'It's Like a Lifeline.' How Religious Leaders Are Helping People Stay Connected in a Time of Isolation

  This article does a great job detailing how religious leaders in Christianity and Judaism are aware of the major problem of Covid-19. They have shut down their temples for prayer, but they will still get their message of unity and faith across to the community. The article also details the major changes to usual rituals in churches and temples.
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  2020-04-04

  The rightwing Christian preachers in deep denial over Covid-19's danger

  The article discuses how Covid-19 has been ignored and not taken seriously by some of the Christian Pastors and leaders within the relgion by not dismantling all social gatherings. The article explains how for some Christian leaders, they have been disobeying orders given by their states to no longer hold any more social gatherings until further notice which have resulted in arrestment. These leaders are/were trying to convince the masses that through more intensive Christianity practices, those who participate will become immune and from a global scale, the virus can be defeated.
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  2020-04-02

  Here's a look at what states are exempting religious gatherings from stay at home orders

  This article is about twelve states which have allowed public religious gatherings during the current COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. The twelve states listed to the left have deemed religious gatherings essential and have created adaptations to maintain distance between members. These gathers are highly criticized and have been sourced as the cause of several outbreaks across the country, including in Sacramento, California.
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  2020-04-13

  Are COVID-19 Restrictions Inflaming Religious Tensions?

  This article discusses how some countries in the Middle East view the religious restrictions such as the closure of Shia shrines in Iraq and Iran and the cancelation of the hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia as a form of violation of religious practices and repression of religious minorities. It is said that these restrictions will negatively impact how people view their government leaders.
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  2020-04-11

  Hospital Chaplains Try to Keep the Faith During the Coronavirus Pandemic

  This article goes into detail on how many “Chaplains” are keeping faith/ religiosity alive during the Corona Virus pandemic. Many individuals in the hospital who are ailing or have the Corona Virus are unable to have access to their religions, or any type of contact with religiosity. There are a select handful of individuals who will go into the hospitals infected with the coronavirus and bring religiosity to the sickly. Not only the sickly, but also bringing religiosity and faith to medical professionals or anyone who takes care of the sickly in the hospitals. This article outlines some of the work done by these people in the hospitals and what it means to them, and the people they are providing help for.
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  2020-04-05

  Priests, ministers, rabbis and other religious leaders go online to connect with faithful, but miss the personal touch

  Though nearly every religion has used online streaming to connect with their congregations during the pandemic, preachers and parishioners alike are missing the personal contact that comes with in-person services.
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  2020-03-10

  Is coronavirus coming between people and their faith?

  This article speaks to the actions that major religious groups are doing around the world. We see how Christiany had to change up a lot of touching and huging to stop the spread. They also had to do more onlice services as well. We go to Islam and see how they closed down the Kaaba and stopping people from other countries from coming into Mecca and Medina. We look at the Hindus and how they still do Holi but they are asked to take more steps to be careful like wearing masking. Finally we see how Judaism trys to stop kissing and touch many things in order to slow the spread.
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  2020-04-09

  The Three Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic

  This article by Brooks says, how during the coronavirus is great time to make arts and crafts. In time religion have always encouraged the pursuit of happiness and well being along with science books. Brooks tells that in three equations is a formula to help oneself to contrast their life into an art form. Then magnify what we draw from the activity to help us see and think from a subjective view. This activity worth thinking about during the bad times we are all going through (Brooks,2020).
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  2020-04-07

  Religious Services Navigate Coronavirus Restrictions

  This article addresses some of the issues faced by various religious communities across the United States of America in the wake of restrictions due to COVID-19. It mentions some ways in which organizations are adapting services to comply with social distancing restrictions, and it provides more examples of organizations that have actively opposed these restrictions. It also incorporates the thoughts about compliance versus noncompliance from others across different religious traditions. The article points out that, for many of the religious traditions addressed, the measures being taken in response to the pandemic, such as social distancing, are in line with the central principles of their beliefs. The article closes by addressing some of the issues that communities face in their attempts to adapt services to these restrictions.
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  2020-04-13

  Prominent Virginia pastor who said ‘God is larger than this dreaded virus’ dies of covid-19

  This article explains that a pastor from Virginia named Gerald Glenn still held in-person services at his church. The governor of the state ordered that all non-essential businesses and gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. However, the pastor continued with his in-person services. According to him, his God and preachings needed to continue because they're bigger than the virus. On Saturday, April 11, the pastor passed away due to coronavirus. His wife also tested positive with COVID 19.
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  2020-04-07

  Coronavirus Is Changing The Rituals Of Death For Many Religions

  The article discusses changes that have been made to religious grieving ceremonies as a result of COVID. Various world religions have traditional services to honor their the dead. For example, Hindus have traditionally burned corpses on pyres near the Ganges river and Muslims have gathered to wash the bodies of their loved ones. However, due to government restrictions on social gatherings, these elaborate ceremonies are unable to continue normally, forcing people to temporarily suspend cultural practices and prioritize health safety.
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  2020-03-17

  Iranian police disperse crowds from shrines after Covid-19 closures

  The article talks about how Iranian police are forced to break apart crowds of people who're forcing themselves into shrines which are normally used for prayers around the clock. It also states that COVID has affected mainly important festivals. The Article also talks about how Italy has opened private prayers and confessions. Europe and the US churches mosques and synagogues have been suspended for public celebration as well. It also talked about how 2/3rds of the confirmed cases of the virus inMalaysia can be linked back to an Islamic conference attended by about 16,000 people.
• 
  2020-04-09

  During coronavirus crisis, Congress’s first caucus for nonreligious belief seeks a larger role in promoting science

  "The nation is growing increasingly nonreligious. Last year, the Pew Research Center reported that 26 percent of Americans now say they are not affiliated with any religious tradition, compared with 17 percent in 2009. Many of those unaffiliated Americans still believe in God and incorporate spiritual practices into their lives. But the share of atheists has doubled, from 2 percent of Americans in 2009 to 4 percent in 2019. An additional 5 percent now call themselves agnostics, compared with 3 percent a decade earlier."
• 
  2020-04-09

  Some churches confront virus restrictions on Easter services

  This article is about churches in Georgia, Texas, and New Mexico having to adapt the upcoming Easter services through livestreaming options. However, in some states Governors have determined that church is an “essential” service which would allow Easter services to go on. These churches would use social distancing in order to worship and to avoid the spread of the virus. Moreover, some smaller churches plan to carry services how they normally would without practicing social distancing.
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  2020-04-06

  Churches spark outrage by defiantly holding services despite coronavirus orders

  This article is about church members who lined up on Palm Sunday for communion at a Calvary Church near Los Angeles. Ten people were allowed inside at a time, but by the end of the day the church had seen hundreds of memebers. While people were attending church, protesters were lined up in the parking lot of the church honking their horns becuase this church was not closed and members were disregarding Los Angeles "stay at home" order due to COVID-19.
• 
  04/09/2020

  Fact Check: Yes, Texas' governor has deemed religious services essential amid pandemic

  On March 31st Texas governor Greg Abbott added religious worship to the state’s list of essential services. This order allows for in-person religious gathers after other local officials had already ordered religious gatherings to be live-streamed only. The governor’s order proceeds the news of the arrest of several religious leaders for holding services with hundreds to thousands of attendees.
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  2020-03-22

  Where Is God in a Pandemic?

  writer and priest James Martin grapples with the "problem of suffering" during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. He poses the question of why does God allow such suffering and tribulation to plauge the world. He comes to the conclusion that it is impossible to know and that the faithful must be able to keep their faith even when they don't understand the actions of their God.
• 
  2020-04-02

  South Phoenix church still hosting in-person services despite widespread call to stay home

  The article describes one church community's response to COVID-19 and Gov. Ducey's proclamation to practice social distancing except in "essential activities." A spokesperson from the church community stated that they are not practicing social distancing and would continue to meet.
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  2020-03-27

  The Religious Right’s Hostility to Science Is Crippling Our Coronavirus Response

  This article talks about Trump's towards the corona virus pandemic and how the denial of science and critical thinking amongst religious ultraconservatives is affecting the American repsonse to the covid 19 outbreak. The article talks about how religious ultraconservative people in America are in denial of the facts about the pandemic because they have a religious response towards the virus which in result causes a lack of concern amongst those groups of people.
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  2020-04-03

  Coronavirus: Islamophobia concerns after India mosque outbreak

  In the article, it is discussing how a Muslim gathering increased the number of coronavirus cases in India. Many Indians, especially the Indian government, are angry because Muslims recently held a large gathering with people who came from abroad. From this situation, many Indians are seeing Muslims as individuals who are creating more problems in the country by attending these congregations carelessly and not following the government’s advice. Therefore, there has been an increase in Islamophobia due to this event, and the Indian government has even charged the Muslim clerics for not taking the coronavirus despite the government’s warning.
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  2020-03-27

  Coronavirus changes Lent Bishops permit Catholics to eat meat on Fridays

  In this article it shows how an observance is affected for Catholics. Bishops around the nation are given special permission for parishioners to eat meat on Fridays during Lent. Their reasoning is that people have giving up so much already, i.e. gatherings, mass and other activities. In addition to social distancing food stores have sparse if not empty shelves in terms what is available for the special dietary rules for Lent. They want to ease the difficulties in finding food as well as making sure they are not endangering their health in order to fulfill their requirements for Lent.
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  2020-03-15

  A Sunday without Church: In Crisis, a Nation Asks, 'What is Community?'

  The parking lot at a large church sits empty, and volunteers explain to anyone who tries to enter that all services will be held online in order to decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19. Regular church attendees are currently having their sense of community challanged. This is because their relgious practice routines have been disrupted.
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  2020-03-29

  As states crack down on gatherings, some religious exemptions could keep pews full

  Many state governments are being pressured by health professionals to set restrictions on religous gatherings. However, some state governments feel like they do not have the authority to set restrictions on religous practices, while others are limiting the amount of people per gathering, or even banning it completely.
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  2020-04-02

  Texas Governor, Attorney General issue guidance for religious services during COVID-19 pandemic

  Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued guidance for houses of worship and religious services. In the state of Texas, churches and other houses of worship are classified as essential services. The guidance document states that institutions can provide these essential services under certain conditions. The governor is directing religious activities to be practiced at home or through audio or video services. If they cannot conduct activities remotely, houses of worship should follow White House and CDC guidelines for social distancing, personal hygiene, and sanitizing public surfaces.
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  2020-04-05

  COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting impact on how religious communities connect with members, faith leaders say

  In the presented article it focuses on the challenges that Covid-19 has imposed on religion by challenging religious leaders to be more innovative in how they practice their faith both privately and in public, while simultaneously getting their members to actively participate as well. The social restrictions have challenged the way people are able to participate as a community to fulfill their religious endeavors, which as a result has altered their understanding of community and collectivity. Throughout the article it discusses that religious leaders are being proactive and are finding ways to get people to participate religiously. Although, self-imposed distance has carried a negative stigma since most people are beginning to miss socializing and fulfilling the emotional void that only in person human connection can resolve.
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  2020-03-26

  Muslim and Jewish paramedics pause to pray together. One of many inspiring moments in the coronavirus crisis

  This article is about a Muslim and Jewish paramedic who work together in Jerusalem, a land of so much conflict. Despite general tension between the two religious groups, both men find time during the day to pray together, in their own ways. The picture of the paramedics is powerful because it shows how both men have faith in God, respect for each other, and the desire to be of service to their community.
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  2020-04-14

  The Coronavirus Is Empowering Islamophobes — but Exposing the Idiocy of Islamophobia

  The article describes how the COVID-19 virus is being used to promote Islamophobia. The COVID-19 virus is being used by political groups to promote Islamophobia. For example, in India the BJP named the COVID-19 virus “corona jihad” and blame Muslims for spreading the virus. Multiple media outlets have presented Islamophobic ideas that Muslims are responsible for the COVID-19 virus.
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  2020-04-11

  The Pandemic and the Will of God

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  2020-04-09

  Love your neighbour: Islam, Judaism and Christianity come together over COVID-19

  This article speaks about getting involved in their religious community through virtual means. Every religion is important during this time and what you believe in can get you through it. With other forms of media people have found ways to conduct prayers and express their feelings. They speak about not being able to respond to Covid-19 through religion, but their teachings tell them to take action and not affect others. Those who have their faith should raise awareness but still engage in religious practices.
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  2020-04-11

  Kentucky governor asks churches to close on Easter; judge overrules Louisville mayor's order to stop drive-in service

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  2020-04-02

  Column: COVID-19 inspires a Catholic church to offer drive-thru confessions

  The article talks about how due to the effects of COVID-19 churches have had to close their doors to the public. With doing so it added a lot of limitations on what people can do as part of their faith. Thearticle follows a church in San Diego, California where confessions were made available in a "alternative" form. The Church was having confessions in the form of a drive-through, this would allow people to be cleansed from their sins, and still be considered "holy" by the time easter came around.
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  2020-04-11

  The coronavirus pandemic has exposed fissures within religions

  The article, The coronavirus pandemic has exposed fissures within religions, from the economist went over how religions all over the world (mostly christianity) is having t deal witht he coronavirus. It goes in depth about how preachers and high ranking church officials are having to ell people to stay home and that some of them are not staying home but they are still participating in religiousevents. But the main point of the aritcle is about whether all of this is going to turn people away from religion.
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  2020-04-10

  What Easter Can Teach Us About Suffering

  The article disscusses how this church in texas did easter during this pandemic and how they wished they could gather like they usually do. The author also talks about how families gathered on zoom but it is not the same and that is making people sad because they are people who do not have access to the internet. Finally the priest talks about how he is upset they cannot meet but advises other churches to stay home and wait till it gets better.
• 
  2020-04-16

  A Catholic diocese is reopening for Mass despite a statewide stay-at-home order

  The article reported churches for Masses in New Mexico will be the first to get reopened by The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. The diocese guarantees to only limit 5 people come in at a time to follow the public health order of banning gathering more than 5 people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Las Cruces Diocese, thry believed churches are closely related to "essential activities" because people seek out hope and confinement in churches to stay peaceful and reduce the anxiety during this hard time.
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  2020-03-19

  How Are Major Religions Responding to the Coronavirus?

  This article by Kali Robinson is a great article that talks about the major changes that have had to happen because of COVID-19 . Robinson starts off by mentioning that religious gatherings have been hotbeds for outbreaks. She even mentioned that "Half of South Korea’s cases can be traced back to a meeting of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a Christian denomination"(Robinson, 2020). Since the outbreak, they have had to close down many places of worship, and have tried to limit social gatherings. In India they still celebrated Holi even though their prime minister advised to avoid social gatherings. Most of the people in attendance wore surgical masks. Religious groups are now donating equipment to undersupplied communities. Most churches have moved to online streaming for their services like the Roman Catholic Church started to livestream the Pope’s daily mass and Sunday sermon.
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  2020-03-20

  ‘None of Us Have a Fear of Corona’: The Faithful at an Outbreak’s Center

  This article reports about the world's largest Islamic missionary movement with over 16,000 participants in Asia. Tablighi Jamaat is a century-old missionary movement that depends on the charity of mosques to give shelter and is one of the largest faith-based movements in the world. Because of this four day movement hundred of participants have tested positive for COVID-19. One participant states, "Whatever happens to us is God's will".
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  2020-02-27

  Coronavirus Could Break Iranian Society

  This article discusses that the government of Iran refuses to impose quarantines so that people can visit the shrine. However, the article points out that authoritarianism like the government of Iran in dealing with COVID-19 will have a negative impact because the government encourages citizens to get together praying for healing. As a result, there will be more people being infected by coronavirus due to the incompetence of the government.
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  2020-04-14

  U.S. Justice Department Sides With Church in COVID-19 Religious Dispute

  In Greenville, MS there is a church following social distancing guidleines while still offering "drive-in" services, however, many attendees were given $500 citations for being at the services. The article brings to light that while many churches have voluntarily shutdown and transferred to online services, many are still doing these drive-in services or something similar. The U.S. Department of Justice helped to back the members of the church who felt that their rights were being infringed upon, and made a statement in which they assured the people that they will actively ensure their "religious freedom remains protected" throughout the pandemic.
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  2020-04-12

  Some Churches Fight to Open on Easter Despite Coronavirus Shutdowns

  The article is about how because some states have excluded churches from social distancing rules and others haven't, lawsuits are being filed as Church leaders are being charged for holding services violating states rules. Others are fighting for their right to congregate, regardless of the potential harm that could come from such gatherings. It goes on to discuss the disparity between some Govenors views and their legislatures; stating Kansas as an example where the State Supreme Court had to get involved.
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  2020-03-13

  Christianity Has Been Handling Epidemics for 2000 Years

  This article focuses on the history of Christian response to epidemics. Through studying history, the author concluded that most Christians followed the following commandment: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Rather than fleeing the epidemic, Christians would bring support and care to those in need regardless of religious beliefs. Another commandment that the author applied to this situation was, thou shalt not murder. This commandment not only means the literal act of murder, but the act of endangering others. Therefore, orders set in place by authority to keep others safe should be followed. In this article, the author continues to dive deep into scripture and correlates it to the present circumstances we are seeing today.