Vast majority of U.S. adults think the coronavirus pandemic provides lessons for humanity
[link removed]
------------------------------------------------------------
October 8, 2020
** Religion & Public Life
------------------------------------------------------------
A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗ ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
** What lessons do Americans see for humanity in the pandemic? ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
When an event has as much impact as the coronavirus outbreak – disrupting billions of lives and leading to more than 1 million deaths around the world – it’s natural for people to ponder big questions. Is this just a random occurrence, or is there something more at play? Is it all part of God’s plan? Or, at a more worldly level, can this experience teach us any truths about humanity?
We sought to explore these questions in a recent Pew Research Center survey, conducted in mid-July on the Center’s American Trends Panel. First, we asked people: Do you believe there is a lesson or a set of lessons for humankind to learn from the coronavirus outbreak? And if so, do you think these lessons were sent by God, or not? We asked half the respondents who said yes to the first question to describe, in their own words, what lessons they think humankind should learn. This prompted more than 3,700 people to write their answers, which ranged from a few words to several sentences.
A new essay ([link removed]) looks at a sampling of responses – including many examples presented exactly as respondents wrote them.
** Media mentions
------------------------------------------------------------
Mormon leaders call for end to racism, protest violence ([link removed])
Oct. 3 - The Associated Press
The Balkan bright spot in God-linked morality ([link removed])
Oct. 1 - Christianity Today *
** In the news
------------------------------------------------------------
Trump says catching COVID-19 was a ‘blessing from God’ ([link removed])
Oct. 7 - Reuters
Supreme Court hears case of Muslims on no-fly list ([link removed])
Oct. 6 - The New York Times *
DOJ to charge two British ISIS militants accused of role in killing U.S. hostages ([link removed])
Oct. 6 - NPR
Amy Coney Barrett served as a ‘handmaid’ in Christian group People of Praise ([link removed])
Oct. 6 - The Washington Post *
Justices Thomas and Alito question same-sex marriage precedent ([link removed])
Oct. 5 - The New York Times *
Pope Francis’s new encyclical is a papal warning about a world going backward ([link removed])
Oct. 4 - The Washington Post *
Amid pandemic challenges, houses of worship show resiliency ([link removed])
Oct. 3 - The Associated Press
A new group of evangelical leaders forms in support of Biden ([link removed])
Oct. 2 - The Washington Post *
Macron outlines new law to prevent Islamic ‘separatism’ in France ([link removed])
Oct. 2 - The Guardian
Blasphemy convictions spark Nigerian debate over sharia law ([link removed])
Oct. 2 - Reuters
** Support Pew Research Center
------------------------------------------------------------
In times of uncertainty, good decisions demand good data. Please support Pew Research Center with a contribution on the Center’s behalf to our parent organization, The Pew Charitable Trusts.
DONATE ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Newsletter preferences ([link removed])
View in browser ([link removed])
Unsubscribe ([link removed])
Facebook ([link removed])
Twitter ([link removed])
Instagram ([link removed])
* Some websites may require a paid subscription.
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank. As a neutral source of data and analysis, Pew Research Center does not take policy positions.
© 2020 Pew Research Center
