Orthodox Christian Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Orthodox Christians globally reacted to the possibility of contagion and risk in dialogue with theological positions about materials, their own long history which includes surviving previous pandemics and plagues, governmental and civil expectations and edicts, and pious – but often unofficial – understandings about protection and the sacrality of religious artefacts and the space of the temple. This dataset aggregates primary ethnographic research amongst Orthodox Christians in the UK, Serbia, Greece and Russia to highlight commonalities and divergences in Orthodox Christian responses to the pandemic. Examining both the theological basis, and socio-political differences, this dataset focuses on how the Orthodox theology of apophaticism and relationality impacts wider discourses of contagion (both positive and negative), and consequently compliance with public health initiatives. Comparison across diverse Orthodox settings highlights Orthodox Christian concern with the neighbour – both in terms of who may be watching (and reporting) them, and who may fall sick because of them.<p>Aims: This project asks 'What role does the material ecology play in shaping the sociopolitics of Global Orthodoxy?' as a case study for global political discourse and the role of material in the social dynamics of religion.
Impact: Orthodox Christianity is a tradition based on discourse, but there has been very little research looking at the specifics of how it works. Focusing on discourse also tends to over emphasise words and belief. But what if, like Max Muller, we insist that religion must start with what is perceived, not with concepts like 'belief in the supernatural'? This means we situate discursive traditions like Orthodoxy not in concepts but in the material culture of local and global religious groups. This reframes how we understand religion, and forefronts the impact that religious practice has upon material aspects of our experience like health, the environment and geopolitics.
Context: Much social scientific interest in religion looks at the variation in the lived religion from one place to another. However, there are moments - such as in April 2018 when the President of Ukraine asked the Greek Patriarch to intervene into the Russian Church in the Ukraine - when religion can not be studied only in the local lived expression. Situations such as the conflict in Ukraine are complicated by historic tension between local Orthodox Churches. Disagreements in the interpretation of the theology of the body, person, and environment foment political tension within the Churches, between the Churches and external bodies, and between nations. The materiality of discourse must be seen as central to the form and practice of the tradition.
Research: Framed in terms of three research domains, this project focuses on the material conditions of Global Orthodox sociopolitics, conducting research amongst Orthodox Christians and religious institutions. The project investigates how the properties and affordances of the material ecology (including the body, the built environment and wider 'natural' order) shape and are marshalled within the discourse of the Orthodox Churches. The three domains are the Body, Person, and Environment. The Body domain addresses issues such as medical interventions, like IVF and organ donation, which are, across Global Orthodoxy, contentious to varying degrees. The material body becomes a place for negotiating ethical goods (eg extending life, fertility, honouring God). The Person domain examines the variance in permission different churches grant concerning family and marriage practices (eg divorce, family planning). There is also a mounting discourse around identity politics, with some voices pushing for an open approach to homosexuality and women clergy. The material of the body, person, and Church are marshalled as the grounding for historically contingent, philosophically premised, and scientifically inflected arguments for or against 'progressive' movements. Finally, the Environment domain examines the relationship between humans, specific locations, and the earth as a whole. Orthodox theologians highlight an emphasis on 'stewardship of the earth' and call for active engagement in ecological conservation. Issues such as Global Warming take an explicitly religious imperative, as scientific data points to human failure to fulfil their God-given role as caretakers. The control of land (including places like Crimea and Jerusalem) also becomes a religious duty with geopolitical impact.
Output: This project will produce one academic book on the material aspects of the sociopolitics of Orthodox Christianity, a book written for a general audience looking at key case studies around contemporary issues in Orthodoxy, six academic articles, white papers and policy advice on various issues relating to the health and wellbeing of Orthodox Christians and their homelands, and pamphlets written with stakeholder community leaders to help address social issues within the community settings.</p>

新冠疫情（COVID-19 pandemic）暴发后，全球东正教徒（Orthodox Christians）围绕物质性的神学立场、自身历经历次大流行病与瘟疫幸存的悠久历史、政府与民间的期待及政令，以及虔诚但通常非官方的宗教器物与圣殿空间的保护及神圣性认知，针对感染风险与传播可能性展开对话并做出应对。本数据集整合了针对英国、塞尔维亚、希腊与俄罗斯境内东正教徒的民族志一手研究成果，旨在凸显全球东正教徒在疫情应对中的共性与差异。本数据集同时考察了疫情应对的神学基础与社会政治差异，聚焦于东正教（Orthodox Christianity）的否定神学（apophaticism）与关系性神学（relationality）如何影响更广范围内的传播话语（包括积极与消极层面），进而影响公众对公共卫生举措的依从性。对不同地域东正教社群的比较研究凸显了东正教徒对邻人的关切——既体现在对自身被监视（或举报）的顾虑，也体现在对因自身行为而染病的他人的担忧。

研究目标：本项目以全球政治话语及物质生态（material ecology）在宗教社会动态中的作用为研究语境，提出核心问题："物质生态在塑造全球东正教的社会政治格局中发挥着何种作用？"

研究意义：东正教是一种以话语为核心的传统，但目前针对其运作机制的具体研究仍极为匮乏。单纯聚焦话语的研究往往会过度强调言辞与信仰。正如马克斯·缪勒（Max Muller）所言，若我们坚持宗教研究应始于可被感知的对象，而非"超自然信仰"这类概念，那么我们便不应将东正教这类话语传统置于概念框架中，而是应置于全球与地方宗教社群的物质文化语境之下。这一研究视角重构了我们对宗教的认知，并凸显了宗教实践对人类体验中物质层面——如健康、环境与地缘政治——的影响。

研究背景：社会科学领域对宗教的研究多聚焦于不同地域中活态宗教的差异。但在某些特殊时刻——例如2018年4月乌克兰总统请求希腊牧首介入乌克兰境内的俄罗斯正教会——宗教研究无法仅通过地方活态宗教实践展开。乌克兰冲突这类局势因各地方东正教会间的历史张力而变得更为复杂。对身体、人格与环境神学的解读分歧，会在教会内部、教会与外部机构之间以及国与国之间引发政治紧张。话语的物质性必须被视为该宗教传统形式与实践的核心要素。

研究内容：本项目以三大研究领域为框架，聚焦全球东正教社会政治格局的物质性条件，针对东正教徒与宗教机构开展研究。本项目将探究物质生态的属性与可供性——包括身体、建成环境与更广层面的"自然秩序"——如何在东正教会的话语体系中塑造并被加以运用。三大研究领域分别为身体、人格与环境。
身体领域聚焦于不同程度上在全球东正教范围内存在争议的医疗干预议题，例如体外受精（IVF）与器官捐献。物质性的身体成为了协商伦理价值——如延长生命、生育能力、荣耀上帝——的场域。
人格领域考察了不同教会在家庭与婚姻实践（如离婚、计划生育）方面的许可差异。当前围绕身份政治的话语也日益增多，部分声音呼吁对同性恋群体与女性神职人员采取开放态度。身体、人格与教会的物质性被作为依据，用于支撑基于历史偶然性、哲学预设与科学视角的关于"进步"运动的支持或反对论证。
最后，环境领域考察了人类、特定地域与整体地球之间的关系。东正教神学家强调"地球管家"的理念，并呼吁积极参与生态保护。全球变暖等议题被赋予了明确的宗教诫命意义，因为科学数据表明人类未能履行上帝赋予的看护者职责。对土地的管控——包括克里米亚与耶路撒冷等地——也成为具有地缘政治影响的宗教义务。

研究产出：本项目将形成以下成果：一部探讨东正教社会政治格局物质性面向的学术专著，一本面向普通读者、围绕东正教当代核心议题展开的科普读物，六篇学术论文，以及针对东正教徒及其故土健康福祉相关议题的白皮书与政策建议，此外还将与利益相关的社区领袖合作编写小册子，以助力解决社区场景中的社会问题。