Tillid under COVID-19

In the article, we examine Danes' trust in the authorities during the crisis, the relationship between the high degree of trust in the authorities and compliance with the authorities' advice to avoid the spread of infection, and how a growing distrust of society can have consequences for the cohesion in the society, including increasing polarization. The general trust in other people is high in Denmark, and our study shows that trust in the authorities has grown during the pandemic. However, the study shows incipient signs of polarized trust in the population. Religion does not seem to play a role in this development, which instead seems to be associated with material and social insecurity. Research in trust generally indicates that the basis for the strong cohesion that Danish society has shown for decades is precisely trust. If the material and social consequences of the pandemic create fertile ground for change in the level of trust, it can help to create a value setback for the norms that create cohesion in society. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 og religion

Personal and societal crises often generate existential or religious questions. The article examines differences between how religiously oriented Danes think about the causes of the coronavirus and how the pandemic should be handled, compared with less religious' Danes. Unsurprisingly, the least-religious Danes are less disturbed by the extended lockdown of faith communities. Further, the article demonstrates that while a minority of Danes is very religious, those who are have a clear sense of social and religious deprivation as a result of COVID restrictions. Many in this group have participated in online community activities, but few consider these to be satisfactory alternatives to physical services. Generally, there is widespread support for the rational and scientific explanation of the virus and how it should be handled, but a minority of the most religious think the virus has divine origin and should be handled by following God's plan. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.

COVID-19-krisen: Forløb og bekymringer

This article offers an overview over the political steps and containment proceedures during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark 2020. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.