On March 12, when coronavirus popped from media headlines and into real-life with the cancelation of schools, many religious institutions followed suit, canceling services, textual studies and community get-togethers. Easter, a holiday celebrated annually by 80 percent of Americans, was greatly affected by restrictions regarding the virus. Due to social distancing, traditional Easter activities, such as family brunches and egg hunts, were canceled. However, Easter services were still able to continue, thanks to the determination of religious leaders and congregants with a bit of help from technology. Many churches utilized Facebook Live, YouTube, Zoom and other programs, allowing families to watch from home.
“It definitely didn’t feel as impactful as being there in-person,” said junior Yana Kang. “There’s no substitute for an in-person spiritual experience. But I’m glad the church service still happened.”
Churches have also been live-streaming regular Sunday services, attempting to reach out to congregants and offer comfort during the pandemic.
“We are not able to worship in front of one another,” said Cameron Barr, the head pastor of United Church of Chapel Hill, addressing his congregation in a video filmed in an otherwise empty church sanctuary. “We are a virtual community now. But let’s be clear about one thing: church is not canceled… We can all work together to stay connected.”
Jews celebrating Passover were also forced to adapt to social distancing. Traditionally during the holiday, Jews have a large meal called a seder, where they get together with family often coming from far away. Since traveling and large gatherings were prohibited, many people attended seders through Zoom or Skype instead, hosted by families and synagogues. Since Jewish activities are almost always done with a group, it was a novel experience for many.
“It’s hard [to hold seders] online because you don’t actually get to be there and talk to people,” said Solomon Landman-Feldman, a sophomore. “You’re seeing them over the computer, which is really different.”
Kehillah, the sole independent synagogue in Chapel Hill, has also been using Zoom to conduct Saturday services.
Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims whose Gregorian calendar date changes year by year, also occurs during this time, and is still ongoing. To observe Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset while going about their daily lives, bringing themselves closer to God. Now, Muslims are still fasting but doing so from home, which is a change for many.
“There are pros and cons. A pro is that you’re at home, you’re relaxing, you don’t have to be worried about anything,” said junior Nadine Salem. “At school during lunchtime it was a bit painful because the smell of food was everywhere and you couldn’t even drink water. But a con is that time doesn’t pass as quickly… you feel every hour of it.”
Some Muslim practices during Ramadan such as going to the mosque and sharing iftar, the nightly meal that breaks the fast, with extended family and friends have also been put on hold. However, Muslims have been able to circumvent this by calling and reaching out to others to offer comfort, and some mosques in the Triangle area have been live-streaming on Friday nights.
Above all, religious leaders around the world have been encouraging hope and acts of goodwill despite the crises.
“It is a difficult time for everyone,” said Pope Francis, in a digital address during Holy Week. “Let us try, if we can, to make the best use of this time: let us be generous; let us help those in need in our neighborhood; let us look out for the loneliest people… Even if we are isolated, thought and spirit can go far with the creativity of love.”
Photo by Jenny Blass/ECHO
