Theodicy and Crisis: Explaining Variation in U.S. Believers’ Faith Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Based on a national survey of U.S. adults conducted six weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, this article investigates how crisis affects religious faith. Almost no Americans reported losing or weakening faith in response to pandemic at time. By contrast, nearly one-third believers indicated that coronavirus outbreak had strengthened their We theoretically develop and empirically test three factors—theodicy, practices, tradition—to explain variation strengthening effect among believers. Results from statistical models show two theodicic interpretations—believing God: is using as way tell humanity change; will personally protect you virus—significantly increased believers’ reports strengthening, controlling for other factors. also found Black Protestants were more likely report these interpretations, which turn pandemic.