Exploring the Impact of Religious Beliefs, Leadership, and Networks on Response and Recovery of Disaster-affected Populations: A Case Study from Indonesia

Abstract

Although religion often comprises a central component of the social and cultural make-up of communities in developing countries affected by disasters, there is often limited understanding of how religious faith, religious leaders, and religious institutions contribute to vulnerability and resilience in the post-disaster period. Using a case study related to the earthquake in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2006, our research examined the role of faith and religion from the perspective of affected populations, including individuals, religious leaders, and academics. The research suggests complexity in fatalistic thinking and the role of religious activities, where both vulnerability and resilience co-existed. The nature of religious leadership was found to be highly dependent on the individual, although leaders primarily saw their roles as supporting the psychological recovery of the affected population. Examining religious institutions suggests that physical structures, collective engagement in activities, networks, and theological perspectives provided opportunities for initiatives aiming at disaster risk reduction, although not all of these aspects remain functional in the aftermath of disasters. The article concludes by discussing the importance of incorporating religious faith and institutions in disaster risk reduction programming and unifying messages between faith and non-faith organizations.

Emotions and beliefs after a disaster: a comparative analysis of Haiti and Indonesia

“…A number of studies underline the role that faith and religion can play in the aftermath of a disaster (Chester, Duncan, and Dibben, 2008;Abbott, 2013;Ekanayake et al, 2013;Cheema et al, 2014;Joakim and White, 2015). Interestingly, research suggests that experience of suffering leads to increased faith in God (see, for example, Gray and Wegner, 2010).…”

“…In this way, faith and religious beliefs may offer a narrative for comprehending and interpreting traumatic experiences, such as natural disasters (Ramsay, Maderson, and Smith, ). As part of this interpretation, individuals may view the disaster as being the will of a God or Gods (henceforth referred to as God), or some other supernatural agent, or as some form of divine retribution (Misanya and Øyhus, ; Joakim and White, ). Fatalistic thinking—that is, that all future events are predetermined and ascribed to the will of God (Taylor )—may lessen the likelihood of preparing for a disaster, as well as inhibit vulnerability‐reduction responses after a disaster.…”

“…This study, therefore, views ‘place’ as ‘the material setting for social relations’ (Cresswell, , p. 7). Furthermore, one should recognise that beliefs and emotional responses may not be homogenous within locations; community members may not share uniform interpretations and engage in the same responses to disasters, suggesting that places exist within places (IFRC ; Misanya and Øyhus, ; Joakim and White, ). Indeed, various factors are likely to influence beliefs and emotional responses, including age, education, gender, ongoing stressors and social supports, previous experience of trauma, prior mental health, race, socioeconomic status, and the severity of the impacts (Foa, Stein, and McFarlane, ).…”

Religious Belief, Disaster Awareness, and Disaster Response: Findings and Implication For Disaster Risk Reduction

“…Several anthropological and geographical studies stated that for disaster-affected community, spirituality and belief can offer answers to questions such as why natural hazards occur, in which way they occur, and what are the meanings of injury and death [7,15,16]. It is vital a lot for the people who lack the sufficient capabilities and resources to alleviate, mitigate or eliminate living and psychological distresses in disaster situation [9,16,17].…”

“…It constrains or promotes their agencies to respond to natural disasters and affects public emotions in a disaster situation. The main findings are summarized and synthesized as follows: Natural hazards and disasters thought to be divine retribution seems like a common phenomenon in religious communities cross religious denominations [3][4][5][6][7][8][9], even in communities where individuals are well aware of alternative scientific explanations [10][11][12][13].…”