Worldviews Complexity in COVID-19 Times: Australian Media Representations of Religion, Spirituality and Non-Religion in 2020

In 2020, as infections of COVID-19 began to rise, Australia, alongside many other nations, closed its international borders and implemented lockdown measures across the country. The city Melbourne was hardest hit during pandemic experienced strictest longest worldwide. Religious spiritual groups were especially affected, given prohibition gatherings people for religious services yoga classes with a orientation, example. Fault lines in socio-economic differences also pronounced, low-wage casual workers often from cultural minorities being particularly vulnerable virus their precarious workplaces. addition, some individuals did not comply actively resisted restrictions at times. By contrast, resulted positive re-engagement religion spirituality, served accelerate digital push activities shifting online platforms. efforts initiated offline promote wellbeing serve those most need. This article presents an analysis media representations religious, non-religious responses Melbourne, January August including two periods lockdown. It applies mixed-method quantitative qualitative thematic approach, using targeted keywords identified previous Australian research. so doing, it provides insights into Melbourne’s worldview complexity, changing place religion, spirituality non-religion public sphere COVID