An Exploration for the Post-Pandemic Period of the Religious Lives of Individuals in Turkey Who Had Severe COVID-19 and Death Anxiety

Öz

Religion has emerged as a strong coping mechanism that has been employed by many people around the world during the chaotic atmosphere of the pandemic, and numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between religion and COVID-19. However, there is need for more studies examining how COVID-19 and death anxiety impacted individuals’ religious lives in the post-COVID-19 period. This phenomenological investigation examines the post-Covid-19 effects on the religious lives of individuals in Turkey who experienced severe Covid-19 and fear of death. The analyses of the research revealed that experiencing severe COVID-19 and death anxiety seem to contribute to strengthen religious commitments among the participants. According to research analyses, due to the severe COVID-19 and death anxiety, the participants reported that they (a) had a better understanding of human helplessness and the power of God, have tended to deepen their religious commitments; (b) gained a more robust understanding of the transient and mortal nature of the world; and (c) experienced a fear of dying as a sinner and considered the rest of their lives as a second chance given by God. All three of these factors appear to contribute to the involvement of religion in participants' lives in the post-COVID-19 period.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Psychology of Religion
• Sociology of Religion
• COVID-19
• Religious Life
• Death Anxiety
• Religious Coping

Türkiye'de Ağır Kovid-19 Geçiren ve Ölüm Kaygısı Yaşayan Bireylerin Pandemi Sonrası Dini Yaşamlarına İlişkin Bir İnceleme

Öz

Din, Kovid-19 salgının kaotik atmosferinde dünya genelinde pek çok insanın başvurduğu güçlü bir başa çıkma mekanizması olarak kendini göstermiştir ve din ile Kovid-19 arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaya yönelik çok sayıda akademik çalışma yapılmıştır. Ancak Kovid-19 ve ölüm kaygısının, bireylerin dini yaşamlarını Kovid-19 sonrası dönemde nasıl etkilediğini inceleyen daha çok çalışmaya ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır. Bu fenomenolojik çalışma, Türkiye'de ağır Kovid-19 geçiren ve ölüm korkusu yaşayan bireylerin Kovid-19 sonrası dönemde dini yaşamlarının nasıl etkilendiğini araştırmaktadır. Araştırmanın bulguları, şiddetli Kovid-19 geçirmiş ve ölüm kaygısı hissetmiş olmanın katılımcıların dini bağlılıklarını güçlendirme yönünde katkıda bulunduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Araştırma bulgularına göre, şiddetli Kovid-19 ve ölüm kaygısı nedeniyle katılımcılar, (a) insanın acizliğini ve Allah’ın gücünü daha iyi anladıklarını ifade etmişler ve dini bağlılıklarını derinleştirme eğilimi göstermişlerdir; (b) dünyanın geçici ve ölümlü doğasına dair daha sağlam bir anlayışa ulaşmış gözükmektedirler; ve (c) Kovid-19 geçirdikleri dönemde günahkâr olarak ölme korkusu yaşadıkları için hayatlarının geri kalanını Allah’ın verdiği ikinci bir şans olarak görme eğilimi sergilemektedirler. Bu faktörlerin her üçünün de Kovid-19 sonrası dönemde katılımcıların yaşamlarında dinin daha fazla yer almasına katkıda bulunduğu görülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Din Psikolojisi
• Din Sosyolojisi
• Kovid-19
• Dini Yaşam
• Ölüm Kaygısı
• Dini Başa Çıkma

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