PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

The empirical analysis of this article presents an interpretation of religious attitudes expressed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Muslim communities in Moluccas, Indonesia. The article explains religious experiences and the meanings of their resistance to COVID-19. Various measures to respond to the pandemic have created resistance in religious communities globally. As a result, there have been violations of health protocols, including in Indonesia. Data were obtained through interviews and observations around Ambon City, Moluccas, Indonesia. The data were analyzed through qualitative methods and constructivist paradigms based on a phenomenological perspective, especially a social constructionist perspective. This article explains the role that phenomenological and religious studies of resistance can play in understanding effective public health management and improving the government’s policies and the pandemic health protocols. Subjective experiences occurred in religious worship, community homes, educational institutions, and rituals amid uncertain information and political polarization. The results indicate that resistance encompasses planning, fraud, global disasters, negative labeling, panic, anxiety, and fear. Resistance will have an impact and become necessary due to the involvement of individuals; this affects daily life for religious belief and coping with fear, panic, and uncertainty of COVID-19. This article will benefit Muslim communities’ subjective experiences regarding resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage further research.

• Abidah, A., Hidaayatullaah, H. N., Simamora, R. M., Fehabutar, D., & Mutakinati, L. (2020). The impact of covid-19 to Indonesian education and its relation to the philosophy of “Merdeka Belajar”. Studies in Philosophy of Science and Education, 1(1), 38-49. https://doi.org/10.46627/sipose.v1i1.9

• Abdullah, I. (2020). COVID-19: Threat and fear in Indonesia. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(5), 488-490. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000878

• Abowitz, K. K. (2000). A pragmatist revisioning of resistance theory. American Educational Research Journal, 37(4), 877-907. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312037004877

• Albertoni, N., & Wise, C. (2021). International trade norms in the age of Covid-19 nationalism on the rise? Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 14, 41-66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40647-020-00288-1

• Barreneche, C., Bermúdez, A. L., & Martín, J. R. (2021). Datafication in corruption contexts: Sociotechnical imaginaries and resistance practices vis-à-vis anti-poverty systems in Colombia. Palabra Clave, 24(3), 1-39. https://doi.org/10.5294/pacla.2021.24.3.4

• Ben-Lulu, E. (2021). Zooming in and out of virtual Jewish Prayer services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 60(4), 852-870. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12746

• Bogdan, R., & Steven, J. T. (1998). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A phenomenological approach to the social science. John Wiley and Son.

• Boylan, J., Seli, P., Scholer, A. A., & Danckert, J. (2021). Boredom in the COVID-19 pandemic: Trait boredom proneness, the desire to act, and rule-breaking. Personality and Individual Differences, 171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110387

• Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, A., Dong, J., & Zheng, J. (2020). The psychological impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Research, 287, Article 112934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934

• Chau, H. C., Jonathan D. S., & William D. F. (2020). Covid-19 clinical diagnostics and testing technology. Focus on Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, 40(8), 857-868. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.2439

• Cooley, C. H. (1990). Human nature and the social order. Transaction Books.

• Cucinotta, D., & Vanelli, M. (2020). WHO declares Covid-19 a pandemic. Acta Biomedica, 91(1), 157-160. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i1.9397

• Darawsheh, W. B., Tabbaa, S., Bewernitz, M., & Justiss, M. (2022). Resettlement experiences of Syrian refugees in the United States: Policy challenges and directions. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 23, 591-612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-021-00855-9

• Darmawan, D., Miharja, D., Waluyajati, R. S. R., & Isnaeniah, E. (2020). The religious attitude of the community in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak. Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama dan Lintas Budaya, 4(2), 115-126. https://doi.org/10.15575/rjsalb.v4i2.8596

• DeFranza, D., Lindow, M., Harrison, K., Mishra, A., & Mishra, H. (2021). Religion and reactance to Covid-19 mitigation guidelines. American Psychologist, 76(5), 744-754. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000717

• Dein, S., Loewenthal, K., Lewis, C. A., & Pargament, K. I. (2020). Covid-19, mental health and religion: An agenda for future research. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 23(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1768725

• Delli, P. A., & Maddaloni, D. (2021). Conceptualizing motives for migration: A typology of Italian migrants in the Athens area. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 22, 1465-1484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-021-00818-0

• Dent, E. B., & Goldberg, S. G. (1999). Challenging “resistance to change.” The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 35(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886399351003

• Djalante, R., Jonatan, L., Davin, S., Aruminingsih, S., Mochamad, I., Budi, H., Choirul, M., Muhammad, S. S., Susanti, D., Irina, R., Lalu, A. G., Gusti, A. K. S., & Henny, W. (2020). Review and analysis of current responses to Covid-19 in Indonesia: Period of January to March 2020. Progress in Disaster Science, 6, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100091

• Fasse, L., & Zech, E. (2016). Dual process model of coping with bereavement in the test of the subjective experiences of bereaved spouses: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 74(2), 212-238. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222815598668

• Fernandes, N. (2020). Economic effects of coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) on the world economy. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3557504

• Ghahari, S., Lui, J., Nagra, S., & Morassaei, S. (2020). The life experiences of refugees in Canada: A comprehensive scoping review to identify unmet needs and barriers. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 21, 1249-1261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-019-00727-3

• Gkrouzman, E., Wu, D. D., Jethwa, H., & Abraham, S. (2021). Telemedicine in rheumatology at the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. HSS Journal®, 16(1_suppl), 108-111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-020-09810-3

• Goldthorpe, J. H. (2014). The role of education in intergenerational social mobility: Problems from empirical research in sociology and some theoretical pointers from economics. Rationality and Society, 26(3), 265-289. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043463113519068

• Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2021). Pandemics, tourism and global change: A rapid assessment of Covid-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708

• Guo, Y. R., Qing-Dong, C., Zhaong-Si, H., Yuang-Yang, T., Shou-Deng, C., Hong-Jun, J., Kai-Sen, Tan., De-Yun, W., & Yan, Y. (2020). The origin, transmission, and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak – an update on the status. Military Medical Research, 7(11), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-020-00240-0

• Hart, C. W., & Koenig, H. G. (2020). Religion and health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Religion and Health, 59, 1141-1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01042-3

• He, Z., & Chen, Z. (2021). The social group distinction of nationalists and globalists amid Covid-19 pandemic. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 14, 67-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40647-020-00310-6

• Husserl, E. (1928). Logische untersuchungen [Logical researches] (4th ed.). Niemeyer.

• Jermier, J. M., Knights, D., & Nord, W. R. (1994). Resistance and power in organizations. Taylor & Frances/Routledge.

• Khan, M. I., Saleem, H. A. R., Anwar, M. F., & Chang, Y. C. (2021). Novel coronavirus and emerging mental health issues—A timely analysis of potential consequences and legal policies perspective. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 14, 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40647-020-00313-3

• Kumar, M., Dhangara, K., Alok Kumar Thakur, Bhagwana Ram Tushara Chaminda Pradeep Sharma, P., Kumar, A., Raval, N., Srivastava, V., Rinklebe, J., Kuroda, K., Sonne, C., & Barcelo, D. (2021). Antidrug resistance in the Indian ambient waters of Ahmedabad during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416, Article 126125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126125

• Lahmiri, S., & Bekiros, S. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 pandemic upon stability and sequential irregularity of equity and cryptocurrency markets. Chaos, Solitons and Fractals, 138, Article 109936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chaos.2020.109936

• Lilja, M., & Vinthagen, S. (2018). Dispersed resistance: Unpacking the spectrum and properties of glaring and everyday resistance. Journal of Political Power, 11(2), 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1080/2158379X.2018.1478642

• Lindlof, T. R. (1995). Qualitative communication research methods. Sage Publications.

• Maliki, M. (2020). Covid-19, agama, dan sains [Covid-19, religion and science]. Maarif, 15(1), 60-92. https://doi.org/10.47651/mrf.v15i1.77

• Martha, J. (2020). Indonesia’s use of public diplomacy in the Covid-19 crisis. Jurnal Ilmiah Hubungan Internasional, 16, 121-130.

• Miller, D., Rowlands, M., & Tilley, C. (2005). Domination and resistance. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203985137

• Moulahoum, H., Faezeh, G., Figer, Z., Kutsal, T., & Suna, T. (2021). How should diagnostic kits development adapt quickly in COVID 19-like pandemic models? Pros and cons of sensory platforms used in COVID-19 sensing. Talanta, 222, Article 121534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121534

• Merleau, P. M. (2007). The Merleau-Ponty reader. In T. Toadvine & L. Lawlor (Eds.), Northwestern university studies in phenomenology and existential philosophy. Northwestern University Press.

• Mohan, S. V., Manupati, H., Harishankar, K., Ranjith, I., & Kiran, A. K. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 in environmental perspective: Occurrence, persistence, surveillance, inactivation and challenges. Chemical Engineering Journal, 405, Article 126893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126893

• Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage Publications.

• Ng, R. J., Mohamed, N. N. E., Anuar, I. L. K., Kun, Y. L., Musa, N. S. E., Omar, M. I., Sapian, R. A., Yunus, S, Z, S. A., Shauki, N. I. A., & Bidin, N. (2020). Exploring patients’ experience on hospital merger: Have they benefited from cluster hospital initiative in Malaysia? Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 28(4), 2645-2665. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.28.4.09

• Nguyen, V. K. L., Le, T. M. H., Tran, T. M. C., Le, T. T. H., Duong, T. N. M., Le, T. H., Nguyen, T. S., & Vo, N. H. (2021). Exploring the impact of pandemic on global economy: Perspective from literature review. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 29(3), 2033-2087. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.3.29

• Nurdin, A., Sulaeman, S., & Ridwan, M. (2022). The expression of millennial female journalists’ idealism: Experiences of female journalists in Surabaya, Indonesia. Brazilian Journalism Research, 18(1), 214-237. https://doi.org/10.25200/BJR.v18n1.2022.1459

• Nursalam, N., Sulaeman, S., & Mustafa, I. (2021). Analysis of the term discourse on the Covid-19 social restriction policy in Indonesia. KEMBARA: Jurnal Keilmuan Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pengajarannya, 7(2), 388-405. https://doi.org/10.22219/kembara.v7i2.16500

• Oxholm, T., Rivera, C., Schirrman, K., & Hoverd, W. J. (2021). New Zealand religious community responses to COVID-19 while under level 4 lockdown. Journal of Religion and Health, 60(1), 16-33.‏ https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01110-8

• Ridwan, M., Toisuta, H., Yanlua, M., Sulaeman, S., & Salam, N. (2020). The abda’u ritual: Ethnographic communication study of Tulehu Society in the Moluccas, Indonesia. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 9, 709-722. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2020.09.67

• Regus, M. (2022). Regulating religion in a time of COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: Context, dynamics, and implication. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 42(3/4), 313-331. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0321

• Scanferla, E., Fasse, L., & Gorwood, P. (2020). Subjective experience of meningitis survivors: A transversal qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis. BMJ Open, 10(8), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037168

• Schutz, A. (1972). The phenomenology of the social world (J. Wild & J. M. Edie, Eds.). Northwestern University Press.

• Scott, J. (1990). Front matter. In Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts (pp. I-VI). Yale University Press.

• Soenjoto, W. P. P., & Mujiyono, A. (2020). Fenomena panic buying dan scarcity di masa pandemi Covid 19 tahun 2020 (Kajian secara Ekonomi Konvensional dan Syariah) [The phenomenon of panic buying and scarcity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (Conventional and Sharia Economic Studies)]. Jurnal Istiqro, 6(2), 126-139. https://doi.org/10.30739/istiqro.v6i2.568

• Sudarmo. (2018). Governance of prostitution through collective Actions leading to uncertain sustainable empowerment: Experience from Surabaya, Indonesia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 26(4), 2769-2785.

• Sulaeman, S., Ridwan, M., Sulastri, I., Banawi, A., Salam, N., Darma, D., & Kasim, E. W. (2022). Muslim communities’ identity transformation through the pela gandong ritual communication in Moluccas Immanuel Church, Indonesia. Contemporary Islam. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11562-022-00489-3

• Sulaeman, S., Rijal, M., Malawat, M., & Sere, I. (2021). The symbolic communication of the Ukuwala mahiate ritual of the indigenous peoples of Mamala, Moluccas, Indonesia. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 22, 385-403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-019-00753-1

• Sulastri, I., Sulaeman, S., Hakim, U. F. R., Zakirman., Novarisa, G., & Ridwan, M. (2022). The dramaturgy communication of beggars in an Indonesia Market. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 30(3), 1299-1317. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.3.20

• Tasleem, Z., Na’eim, A. M., & Abidin, N. A. Z. (2020). Examining the housing experiences in Malaysia: A qualitative research on Pakistani immigrant labours. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 21, 241-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-019-00723-7

• Tateo, L. (2017). Seeing imagination as resistance and resistance as imagination. In N. Chaudhary, P. Hviid, G. Marsico, & J. Villadsen (Eds.), Resistance in everyday life (pp. 233-245). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3581-4_17

• Telaumbanua, D. (2020). Juridical review of establishing a public health emergency due to Covid-19. Journal Education and Development, 8(2), 30-36.

• Udgata, S. K., & Suryadevara, N. K. (2021). COVID-19, sensors, and internet of medical things (IoMT). In Internet of Things and Sensor Network for COVID-19 (pp. 39-53). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7654-6_3

• Vanden, H. E. (2007). Social movements, hegemony, and new forms of resistance. Latin American Perspectives, 34(2), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0094582X06299082

• Wildman, W. J., Bulbulia, J., Sosis, R., & Schjoedt, U. (2020). Religion and the Covid-19 pandemic. Religion, Brain and Behavior, 10(2), 115-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2020.1749339

• Wolcott, H. F. (1994). Transforming qualitative data: Description, analysis, and interpretation. SAGE Publications.