A Study of Iranian Public Culture in the Era of COVID-19 with an Emphasis on Religiosity (Case Study: From February 2020 to August 2020)

Introduction: The COVID-19 crisis has profoundly impacted the public culture and religious life of the Iranian people beyond mere governance challenges. Given that Iran is a deeply religious society, understanding the transformations in public culture with a focus on religiosity is essential for comprehending social reactions and managing similar crises.
Objective: The primary objective of this research is to study and explain the public culture of Iranians during the Corona era (from February 2020 to August 2020) with an emphasis on various layers of religiosity.
Methodology: This study employs directed qualitative content analysis. Data was gathered through library research, examining books, articles, scientific webinars, expert notes, and national surveys. The analysis is structured around a three-layer framework: meanings and beliefs, public understanding, and actions/behaviors.
Findings: The findings indicate that in the layer of meanings, beliefs such as trust in God (Tawakkul), prayer, and the spirit of cooperation were significantly strengthened. In the level of public understanding, challenges emerged regarding the relationship between science and religion and the redefinition of rituals. Regarding actions, while traditional collective rituals were restricted, individual religiosity grew, and new rituals focused on social services emerged through volunteer (Jihadist) groups and "health defenders". Additionally, virtual consumption of religious cultural products became firmly established.
Conclusion: The research concludes that the pandemic shifted religiosity from the public sphere to individual and family cores while strengthening the social dimension of religion. The alignment of religious institutions with health protocols did not damage their status; instead, it promoted the rationalization of religious actions and enhanced the social capital of the healthcare system and volunteers.