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Ihor Rusnak


Urgency of the research. More than 80% of people are religious. Since most religions directly establish moral precepts, promotes the formation of specific behavioral patterns, directs people to a certain way of life – in the context of overcoming global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic – the potential role of religion is crucial.

Target setting. A significant number of religious organizations have developed immanent rules to prevent pandemic hazards, however, the interpretation of such rules, and therefore their constructive potential, depends on the will of religious leaders and the peculiarities of their interaction with secular authorities.

Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The article is based on an analysis of a study of official documents of international organizations, a comparative analysis of open sources to identify the constructive or destructive potential of religion in light of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research objective. To find out the functional role of religion in the context of creating factors to combat the spread of COVID-19: opportunities and course of adaptation of religious organizations to new conditions; elucidation of communicative potential and ability to face threats to the post-truth world; research into the risks associated with the existential experiences and personal beliefs of religious people.

The statement of basic materials. The activities of religious organizations, the dependence of the effectiveness of their fight against the pandemic on the specifics of cooperation with secular authorities are analyzed. The destructive influence of religious fundamentalism attempts to use the pandemic to achieve political interests is asserted. The problem of adaptation and the possibility of religious organizations to use digital technologies in the light of preventing the spread of COVID-19 is considered. The adaptive potential, in particular of the Christian religion, is analyzed in line with possible changes in the values of modern man and the organization of social space. The problem of the paradox of access to information in the context of media coverage of the activities of religious organizations is revealed. The need for greater integration of secular and religious authorities to disseminate scientifically sound information about the disease was stated.

Conclusions. The potential of religion in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 can be used most effectively with effective and transparent cooperation between the secular authorities and religious organizations, which will be based on the humanistic aspect.

Keywords: COVID-19, Islam, constructive potential, religion, Christianity


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