Items

• 
  2021-09

  Meme about covid-19 as a religion

  I encountered this meme on twitter in 2021. Someone had shared it not understanding what it meant, to make fun of whom they assumed was an American Conservative who made it, and when I first saw it- it provided me with a lightbulb moment. I had not been able to understand through the pandemic why followers of God based religions were not able to take the pandemic seriously. Outside of conservative politics there was an aspect missing from the conversation about the pushback against pandemic safety measures. This meme showed me that many believers in God were unable to take the pandemic 'seriously' because to be afraid of covid-19 would be to view and interact with it like they do God. If you fear God, if your relationship to God is fear based, you cannot fear Covid-19 unless you wish to treat it in a manner similar to God. I think this simple meme is important in contextualizing the history of the pandemic, how those of God based faiths could not cope with the pandemic in a similar manner as others. The pandemic has changed me in a lot of ways, I had just turned 22 when the pandemic first started and now in December of 2022 I will turn 25 years old. Transitioning from early to mid 20's is always a challenge but the pandemic has created strange times as I transition more into adulthood. This meme has begun an interest and more mature perspective on the role religion plays not only in politics but the psychology behind people of God based faiths. This meme alone has assisted me in developing compassion for people I thought were just stupid when the pandemic started. There is no one rational response to immense fear, only personal widely varied responses; every person has a deeply individualized psychology built off of neural networks formed only by their unique experiences daily.
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  2021-08-08

  New Normal?

  I went to church this past Sunday for the first time since the quarantine of March 2020. I'm not sure what I was expecting but there were a lot more changes than I had imagined. Sanitizing stations, hand wipes, and masks for those who wished to wear them. People were still socializing, not everyone was wearing masks but it was nice to see that it was an option and available to those who wanted. Before the pandemic, there was always a table with refreshments where we would go and grab pastries before Sunday school. Now that table had someone there to grab pastries in an attempt to limit contact. There were so many viable changes outside but the one that stuck to me most was the one I caught inside. Communion is a very important aspect of the Christian faith, I remember growing up in a Hispanic church there was a ceremonial feel to communion. It was a special occasion, a time to reflect and remember the foundation of our faith. I kept that feeling with me growing up but this past Sunday I was taken back when I walked into church. I was handed what I thought was a trinket. I sat down and stared at this object for a second, this was how we were to take communion. Of course, it makes total sense not to pass a tray around with crackers and juice to a building full of people, especially because you can never know for sure who's been vaccinated and who hasn't. This was just an unexpected change that the pandemic brought on, I wonder if this will be part of the "new normal" everyone is always talking about.
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  2021-01-25

  As Long As I'm Living My Mommy You'll Be

  Depicts someone who passed away as well as religion. The photo shows blue flowers in the background. On the table, an urn is shown with an angelic figure on top pointing to a necklace on the right-hand side that says mom in a heart with a red stone. On the left-hand side shows a remembrance of life card with a woman named Doreen DeCoursey shown on it in a blue shirt. In writing on the card it says: "In loving memory of Doreen DeCoursey December 14th, 1958- January 7th 2021. God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around her and whispered come with me. With tearful eyes, we saw her fade away. Although we loved her dearly, We could not make her stay. A golden heart stopped beating Hard working hands to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best."
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  2021-04-24

  The Devastating Pandemic

  I have been witness to some really traumatic life events. This has made me experience the pain and agony of individuals and their families during this pandemic. This has also made me grateful for keeping me and my family safe.
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  2020-03-13

  Christianity Has Been Handling Epidemics for 2000 Years

  Religions, having been around for millennia, have a unique history of dealing with various pandemics. This article, written by a Lutheran Christian, details the message of Christianity that has been preserved through the centuries. Specifically, according to Stone, Christians have always taught, even if not displayed, that one is to love and care for their neighbor, even to their own detriment. It is not reckless care, where someone may go care for their neighbor and then spread the virus; rather, it is being cautious, but also continuing to love for one’s neighbor.
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  2021-01-27

  More Americans Than People in Other Advanced Economies Say COVID-19 Has Strengthened Religious Faith

  During difficult times, many people often turn toward religion or faith to provide hope. According to Pew Research, as a result of the pandemic, no Western country with “advanced” economies report that the pandemic has had a net negative impact on religion and faith. In fact, all have a net increase on the reliance of religion and faith. Citizens in the United States, however, are much more likely to say the pandemic has strengthened their faith as opposed to citizens in other countries. While the pandemic has had a net positive for strengthening the faith of people, it has had an even higher positive result for strengthening familial bonds. Family bonds and religious faith has grown stronger for most during the pandemic.
• 
  2020

  Pandemic Street Art: TVBoy and pop street art during the pandemic

  TVBoy is the artist name of Salvatore Benintende, Italian graffiti artist from based in Barcelona, Spain. Through the months of the pandemic, TVBoy has put up several wheat paste murals incorporating imagery of the pandemic, social justice issues, Catholic imagery, and political topics: a school of fish wearing masks; former President Trump in a Superman costume; the Sacred Heart Jesus figure wearing a mask; imagery of Antonio Canova’s statue The Three Graces (the mythological three charities, daughters of Zeus — Euphrosyne, Aglaea and Thalia — said to represent youth/beauty, mirth, and elegance) wearing form-fitting scrubs, clogs, masks, and representing three well known vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca); imagery of Leonardo da Vinci's painting The Last Supper but with Jesus wearing a mask and separating two sides of the table; and others.
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  2020-04-06

  Evangelical missionaries, COVID-19, and the rationalizing of infection

  Excerpt from the article: "One talking point that commonly arises in evangelical subculture is that “there is no safer place to be than in the center of God’s will.” If God needs you not to have coronavirus, in other words, you won’t get it; and why would God want people to get coronavirus in church after all? Following the same principle, if God wants you to preach to uncontacted peoples, God will make a way. You don’t need to worry about diseases; if the people you’re trying to convert die, that will turn out to have been God’s will."
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  2020-10-07

  COVID-19 impact on my life

  How my life has been impacted by COVID
• 
  2020-05-18

  Getting Even Closer Through Schoolwork

  This photograph I took is of my three children, on the couch, with the computers they used to finish the school year during the quarantine. I am recently divorced and serve as an active duty service member, 2017 is when we started the separation process. During the process, my ex-wife and I were on good terms and on agreement on everything but one thing, custody. 2017 is also the year I came to Christ and started opening the Bible, learning by reading and listening to His word about the Gospel and what Jesus did for us. This changed my worldview and my entire outlook on life. Towards the end of the year I got orders to go to Parris Island South Carolina to be a Drill Instructor. I was excited and sad at the same time, for I knew there was no way I could continue to take care of the kids while serving this duty. But I knew I could trust God with my kids, even if they weren't in my care and that if I wanted them back that it was just a matter of time (the duty being 3 years long). Fast forward a year and having spent months in the most demanding job I have ever had, I was extremely upset for the living situation my children faced while I strove to lead and mentor future Marines. Conversing with God through prayer I told him how I felt and how I longed to have my children live with me again. Within a week or two, my ex-wife reached out to ask if the kids can fly across the country to live with me! We did the paperwork, and I have had custody since January 2019. During the quarantine, I constantly pondered what the situation would be like for the kids and me if things had not changed for us in 2019. 2019 was the most rewarding and satisfying year thus far for me as a parent. Not only would I not have had that, 2020 probably would have been unbearable for me without the kids. I’d still be a Drill Instructor and my children would be struggling in their studies. Homeschooling the kids opened my eyes to just how much one-on-one time they needed in certain areas. One-on-one time they should have been getting from me as their dad. This quarantine gave me the time I needed to focus even more on the kids and I loved every minute of it, spending literally 24 hours, 7 days a week with them. We struggled at first, this was not the kind of homeschooling I would have preferred to do, but we made it work. I can’t help but feel so blessed and thank God for it. At the same time, my heart goes out to all the families who weren’t/aren’t as lucky. I just happened to be at a point in my life and career, where I could stay home with the kids and not worry about money or losing my job. Our bonds were strengthened and we grew so much closer together, I wish it could continue this way but I look forward to the kids going back to school. I believe that they are ready, if everyone is smart about it then we can make face-to-face classroom instruction a reality. Most schools are not at this point yet and I’m still unsure if it’s going to happen or not as we are weeks away from the first day of school. Whatever the case, I just wanted to tell a bit about my quarantine experience and how my family got to where it was during it.
• 

  Sick woman in Church

  A woman who is either sick or preventing by wearing a mask in sitting in church. We are made to need hope or look to a higher power/ God during times of hardship. To me, this photo represents a lot regarding what has been happening with Covid-19. This has been a hard and dark time for us. Religion and hope in God has brought me a lot of peace during this time.
• 
  2020-04-13

  sick in church

  Photo of a woman in a church with a mask on her face. This signifies the need of a higher power during these times of hardship. We are humans who are in need of someone/ something to give us hope. This picture clearly shows that this woman is sick or trying to prevent sickness and looking for hope in a God. Photo time is unidentified. This photo signifies our absolute need for a higher power, God, in a time like we are going through with Covid-19. #REL101
• 
  2020-04-27

  The Apocalypse as an ‘Unveiling’: What Religion Teaches Us About the End Times by Elizabeth Diaz

  The article with the image by Elizabeth Diaz, compares the image of the apocalypse to the pandemic crisis. Human beings versus humankind,inequality. Events of destruction and the skies would become the heavens. (Diaz,202). Diaz, Elizabeth. The Apocalypse as an ‘Unveiling’: What Religion Teaches Us About the End Times. New york times, April 2,2020. “Death on the Pale Horse,” painted by the American artist Benjamin West in 1796. #REL101 Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/coronavirus-apocalypse-religion.html
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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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  2020-03-13

  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.
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  04/10/2020

  10 About Home: Ways to celebrate Easter during the COVID-19 pandemic

• 
  2020-03-27

  Facebook Live Bloopers: Church Edition

  As more and more churches move online to some form of livestreaming, there are bound to be some hiccups along the way. This news article collected some of the hilarious mishaps that came about as a result of the coronavirus.
• 
  3/22/2020

  Church goes online and we worship at home.

  Picture I took of my daughter Ava (12) praying with her jr high pastor after his message to the Jr High group online this Sunday.
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  2020-03-16

  Witness in the Plague A Simple Tip Sheet for Churches to Manage Infectious Diseases Like COVID-19

  A tip sheet for how churches should respond to CO-19.