Religion in Times of a Pandemic (Essay Sample)

Religion in Times of a Pandemic
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Religion in Times of a Pandemic
The article focuses on a controversial issue regarding the practice of religion during the coronavirus pandemic. The central question that requires an answer is whether congregational religious summons should continue in the wake of the pandemic. Coronavirus disease is a highly infectious disease that continues to spread across the world, causing illnesses and deaths. Places of worship, such as churches and mosques, have been identified as potential infection areas due to the large groupings of people and lack of social distancing. Closing the religious institutions has, however, caused polarizing moral debates such as in Pakistan. Muslims are strong believers in their faith and contend that all their problems can be resolved religiously. However, the government is determined to use scientific evidence as the blueprint in enforcing laws.
Ethically, people have the right to assemble and perform their rituals. The government of Pakistan encountered obstacles as religious leaders objected to the decision to close the mosques. The coronavirus disease issue gave rise to a hot debate between the supporters of congregational religion and scientific scholars. On the one hand, religious leaders argued that religion should be given the priority at a time like this when medicine has failed to treat people. It would be difficult for the citizens to beat the disease if they do not ask for God’s help (Ghaly, 2020). The religious leaders further argued that the rituals aimed at physical and spiritual purification. Therefore, fears about spreading the disease should not be a concern. Mosques should be regarded as a place for taking divine treatment and not a place for facilitating the spread of the deadly disease.
The opponents of the government directive to close the mosques further intimate that Muslims have encountered more devastating pandemics than those presented by COVID-19. Such situations did not result in the closure of mosques, as witnessed in the current dispensation. Most of the arguments presented by religious leaders are mainly theological and unscientific. Therefore, this presents a classic example of how religion and science can come to conflict. True Muslims are encouraged not to fear the virus (Ghaly, 2020). They should not jeopardize their faith to satisfy the needs of the government. Such a scenario presents the government with a significant moral and ethical dilemma. If they decide to close the mosque, they risk upsetting the fundamentals of the Islam religion. However, keeping the areas of worship open betrays the scientific models that warn against the effects of the congregation.
The proponents of the government’s decision assert that religious guidance should be based on evidence. Scientific evidence has maintained that the mass g