Specific of believers’ perception of the situation with Covid-19 epidemic: public opinion research data

Abstract

Quarantine restrictions associated with the COVID-19 epidemic, except for other spheres, tightly touched upon the sphere of religious life, in particular the implementation of religious practices in a well-established way. The state tried to introduce restrictions on these practices, which, given their connection with the sphere of sacred, may have consequences in the strengthening social tensions or open resistance from believers. The situation with discontent and criticism by religious organizations took place, but the reaction from the wide masses of believers is more important. Accordingly, there is a need for fixation and tracking of such a reaction. The data obtained in the survey of the Ukrainian population indicate a greater, compared with non-religious people, the concerns of believers with the situation with the epidemic of COVID-19. This may be a consequence of both the influence of information and interpretations that believers receive in their religious organizations and the specifics of the personality and the worldview of believers associated with their religious beliefs. At the same time, the more concern with epidemic by religious persons is not connected with a more critical attitude to the actions of authorities and with the desire to full abolition of the existing restrictions.