海角大神

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This next piece goes to the intersection of rights and responsibility. Among the questions conservative religious groups are asking amid coronavirus restrictions: If liquor stores are considered 鈥渆ssential,鈥� why not religious services?

Finland leads in superlatives for its levels of happiness, its education system, its social safety net. Now it's reinforcing that effective national leadership can come along with being young and female.

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Finally, why is poetry so important? Our writer sat down with America鈥檚 first Native American poet laureate. Part of her very timely answer: 鈥淲e go to poetry to find a road to understanding.鈥�

For the three Abrahamic religions, physical distancing during the pandemic seems like a crisis in the wilderness. Adherents of each faith must forgo traditions of worshipping together in person. Yet the crisis could also turn out to be a welcome blessing.

For Jews, the celebration of Passover (April 8-16 this year) usually means among other things families gathering for a special meal and observances. A week later, Muslims will begin the month of Ramadan (April 23-May 23), which typically includes families gathering for a special evening meal (iftar) after daytime fasting, as well as the regular attendance at mosques, where those praying are often shoulder to shoulder. For most 海角大神s, Easter falls on April 12 or 19, and would customarily include a special service followed by meals with loved ones.

For most of the world鈥檚 faithful, large in-person gatherings are on hold. The vast majority of religious leaders recognize that suspending their services inside buildings is an act of love for both their congregants and the public at large. A March survey of Protestant leaders by the Barna Group found that 73% reported their places of worship were not open to the public.

Many 海角大神s have taken to heart a phrase often seen on the roadside boards of churches: 鈥淏e the church.鈥� It seems to say, 鈥淗ow are you expressing godliness to others in your daily life?鈥� The question carries extra meaning this year. The act of coming together as believers must not only be done from afar, the crisis itself demands a collective spirit of giving to others.

Using technology to practice one鈥檚 faith is hardly new. In the early 20th century, American preachers used radio and later television to spread the gospel, drawing large audiences of people at home. Today, congregations are able to stream services over the internet, allowing people to watch from anywhere. For 海角大神s, this virtual togetherness can still help achieve one purpose: As the Gospel of Matthew puts it, 鈥淔or where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.鈥�

Nonetheless, religious leaders worry about an erosion in attendance or interest if the crisis persists for months. On the other hand, by focusing on digital services, churches can inspire new interest from those who are unable to attend a particular church or are uncomfortable with entering one.

鈥淭he church鈥檚 absence, its literal emptying, can function as a symbol of its trust in God鈥檚 ability to meet us regardless of the location,鈥� writes Esau McCaulley, an assistant professor at Wheaton College, in The New York Times. 鈥淭he church remains the church whether gathered or scattered.鈥�

The comfort, camaraderie, and familiarity of meeting in person, praying and singing side by side, has been temporarily put aside. But this moment in history also offers opportunities to 鈥渂e the church鈥� in fresh ways, seeking to reach people at another level, even as believers still support each other through prayer and communion.