The Prosperity Gospel of Coronavirus Response

Bibliographic Data

ID7974256
AuthorsPaul A Djupe (0000-0001-6944-429X, Denison University, corresponding author), Ryan P Burge (0000-0002-8266-3224, Eastern Illinois University)
Year2021
Volume14
Issue3
Pages552-573
Publication date2021-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitics and Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1755-0491 • E-ISSN: 1755-0483
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s175504832000053x
OpenAlexW3087798039
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited30

The sweep of the coronavirus pandemic across the world and the United States offers an almost unparalleled opportunity to study how social systems cope with the threat and opportunities for collective action. In this paper, we draw on survey data collected as the United States flailed in response and before a general consensus among executive officeholders developed in the following weeks. In particular, we assess how holding prosperity gospel views strongly shaped perceptions of the virus and reactions to state responses to the virus. Research on the prosperity gospel is slowly expanding and this paper helps to highlight some missing dimensions. At a time when concerted action for the social good could be uniting the country, prosperity gospel beliefs systematically undermine that possibility by augmenting threat, raising outgroup barriers, and decreasing social trust

Action (physics · Collective action · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Development economics · Economics · Epistemology · Gospel · Pandemic · Perception · Political economy · Political science · Prosperity · Sociology · State (computer science · Theology · Cultural Differences and Values · Culture, Economy, and Development Studies · Law · Medicine · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions

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