Spring/Summer 2020, Issue 2, p. 2
[Online 1 Jun. 2020, Article A013]
[PDF]

Editors’ Introduction: Issue #2 in a Time of COVID-19

Welcome to the second issue of the Public Health, Religion and Spirituality Bulletin (PHRS Bulletin), published by the Public Health Religion and Spirituality Network (PHRS Network). When we began to develop this issue in January, we never could have imagined how differently the world would look by the time of publication. While the articles in this issue were not initially designed to address COVID-19, some of our content unsurprisingly evolved alongside our changing world. For example, lessons for the current pandemic are mentioned by Ellen Idler, John Blevins, and Mimi Kaiser in their report on a new online exhibit about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the critical role of the faith community, and its relevance to today. Similarly, Tyler VanderWeele and Katelyn Long write about the important role of religious communities in times of crisis, and our new resources article highlights a number of COVID-religion-spirituality related resources.

We are also pleased to include a number of articles that we hope will serve as welcome and engaging reads during our extended times in relative isolation – as well as providing lasting value. We begin with an interview with Jeff Levin, a pioneering epidemiologist who has studied religion and public health for over 30 years, published several of the seminal papers in the field, and remains passionate about the field and its future. Next, Everett Worthington uses both wit and candor to describe his journey from psychology to becoming a renowned researcher on the topic of forgiveness, and his burgeoning engagement with public health. Susan Holman, a professor of religion and the healing arts, shares her insights about ways that public health professionals can meaningfully engage historic religious resources to inform and deepen modern practices at the intersection of religion, spirituality, and public health. Each of these articles can be read online or printed in PDF format either individually or as a whole issue ([link to PDF]), and please do consider sharing these resources with colleagues in your own networks.

In the coming months, the PHRS board will convene to review our first two bulletins, the growth of the network, and plans for the coming year. We welcome your ideas for future articles and input about the Network and/or website (see our emails below) as we seek to become a gathering point for those with interest in public health, religion, and spirituality.

Thank you for being a part of the PHRS network, and wishing you and your loved ones well in the months ahead.

Sincerely,
Kate and Doug 

Katelyn Long, DrPH
knlong@hsph.harvard.edu
Coeditor

Doug Oman, PhD
dougoman@berkeley.edu
Coeditor