Representing the Process of Believing in God and the Day of Judgment in Earthquake Resilience: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Due to the increase in natural disasters and their effects on people, the emphasis on the role of spiritual factors in dealing with them has increased; but research has not yet clearly explained these factors. The purpose of this study was to represent the process of showing belief in God and the Day of Judgment in the resilience of earthquake survivors in Sarpol-e Zahab. The method applied was qualitative and of the foundation data type. For this end, 27 earthquake survivors of Kermanshah were studied by purposive sampling method and using in-depth interviews. Data were collected, recorded and coded into the main categories and analyzed through Strauss and Corbin coding techniques, open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Based on the results, belief in God and the Day of Judgment were chosen as the main category. The causal conditions were knowledge and trust in God, belief in divine judgment and predestination, and the administration of justice. Unity and cohesion were chosen as the contextual conditions and religious activities as the mediating conditions. The strategies used by earthquake survivors to deal with the earthquake and its consequences were: altruism and modeling. Finally, acceptance and view of life as a means rather than an end was introduced as a consequence of this model. This study provided a clear picture of the processes, responses and recovery after disasters. The findings of this study can pave the way for creating effective and quick responses in disaster survivors.

Keywords

• belief in god
• resilience
• day of judgement
• earthquake survivors