Instead of going to church at 9:30 a.m., finding a seat in the aisles of chairs and greeting friends, sophomore Susannah Tsai, who is Christian, joins her family at home to watch a livestreamed sermon. After the main Sunday service, Tsai then logs into a Zoom meeting for her Sunday school class where she learns more about her religion and beliefs with others around her age. On Fridays, Tsai attends her youth group fellowship meetings through Zoom, another gathering she would usually attend in person with her church community.
Like many others, Tsai has transitioned from practicing religion in her church to using digital devices due to the social distancing guidelines. A large part of religion is its social aspect, but with COVID-19 health regulations, many Aragon community members and people around the world have had to accommodate for this obstacle.
“The majority of effects that I feel in quarantine are from a social aspect, but I’m pretty engaged in the online activities,” Tsai said. “I have phone calls with one of my leaders at church. At a spiritual level, it’s not too different.”
Junior Vivienne Scott, who is Jewish, also experienced digital substitutes for in-person worship services. Instead of going to her synagogue for Shabbat services, where many families usually gather, Scott attends a Zoom session. Virtual meetings are also hosted on holidays like Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and other celebrations like bat and bar mitzvahs, all of which are typically celebrated with large gatherings.
“It was a big shift to do it online, but most synagogues are doing a good job of transitioning to online [services], and the fact that they’re recording and editing [them] a lot makes it feel like a communal holiday when we’re all at home,” Scott said. ”They’re doing the best that they can, and it’s a really good effort. It’s turning out well. ”
Scott finds that due to the conditions set by COVID-19 health regulations, religious practices from home embody the sense of losing community, which is challenging but not impossible to substitute.
“I don’t think it’s changed my beliefs at all, but you lose a sense of community when you can’t sit next to people and talk to them,” Scott said. “They’ve done a good job on Zoom though, at least for me.”
Because of the transition to socially distanced religious practices and gatherings, junior Diya Rohatgi, a believer in Hinduism, continues to celebrate holidays and worship with her family in the comforts of her home. Before COVID-19, Rohatgi would go to temple for worshiping and praying. Now, Rohatgi’s family has adapted by setting up their own temple at home.
“My mom always taught us that the gods are in our hearts and not where we’re praying,” Rohatgi said. “But it’s a little sad to not be able to see people and celebrate holidays together, especially if they’re big ones in our culture.”
Rohatgi’s family celebrates Hindu holidays like Diwali, Karva Chauth and Holi. Many holidays are concentrated in November. In the past, Rohatgi’s family attended many parties as a way of celebrating, but now they stay at home and celebrate by calling friends.
While Rohatgi can’t go to temple, her family has established a dynamic for worshiping and praying from home.
“Before we used to do things at home and at the temple, but now that we can only do it at home, my family is focused on doing it the proper way and acting formal about it,” Rohatgi said. “[We] act as if we’re going to the temple and do things really on point. … If [the] coronavirus continues next year … it’s definitely something we can keep up, and it’s not … unattainable.”
In the past nine months, COVID-19 has affected all aspects of life, including how one practices their religion. However, even though the pandemic has caused a disruption, it doesn’t hinder one’s beliefs. Looking forward and considering the resilience that faith inspires, there will most likely be large celebrations when people can once again worship together.
