TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic started spreading around the globe towards the end of 2019. In this mostly autobiographical reflection on the effects of the pandemic, vision and seeing are used as metaphors to create a narrative discerning different reactions and perspectives in a local and wider context. Th...

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Main Author: C. Gouws
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2020-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/4977
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author C. Gouws
author_facet C. Gouws
author_sort C. Gouws
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic started spreading around the globe towards the end of 2019. In this mostly autobiographical reflection on the effects of the pandemic, vision and seeing are used as metaphors to create a narrative discerning different reactions and perspectives in a local and wider context. This narrative is augmented by excerpts and paraphrasing of literature originating during previous disruptions and times of uncertainty. The author uses examples from the Second World War, the Soviet Union in the 1950s, the civil war in the Balkans in the 1980s, and 9/11. The article consists of four sections. First, some medical and epidemiological perspectives are provided; secondly, the author’s immediate milieu is described; thirdly, perspectives of places further afield are depicted, and lastly, a reflection on the pandemic and the future. The author concludes with thoughts on Christian faith, challenging believers to hold on and persevere, despite not seeing the final outcome of this disruption.
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spelling doaj-art-3299074b3f0f4a2fba9a1eb0d4ff23312025-02-11T09:45:51ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892020-12-0140210.38140/at.v40i2.4977TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMICC. Gouws0University of the Free State The COVID-19 pandemic started spreading around the globe towards the end of 2019. In this mostly autobiographical reflection on the effects of the pandemic, vision and seeing are used as metaphors to create a narrative discerning different reactions and perspectives in a local and wider context. This narrative is augmented by excerpts and paraphrasing of literature originating during previous disruptions and times of uncertainty. The author uses examples from the Second World War, the Soviet Union in the 1950s, the civil war in the Balkans in the 1980s, and 9/11. The article consists of four sections. First, some medical and epidemiological perspectives are provided; secondly, the author’s immediate milieu is described; thirdly, perspectives of places further afield are depicted, and lastly, a reflection on the pandemic and the future. The author concludes with thoughts on Christian faith, challenging believers to hold on and persevere, despite not seeing the final outcome of this disruption. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/4977Covid-19VisionFaithInterdisciplinary dialogue
spellingShingle C. Gouws
TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Acta Theologica
Covid-19
Vision
Faith
Interdisciplinary dialogue
title TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
title_full TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
title_fullStr TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
title_full_unstemmed TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
title_short TO SEE, WHILE UNABLE TO SEE: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
title_sort to see while unable to see autobiographical perspectives of an ophthalmologist on the covid 19 pandemic
topic Covid-19
Vision
Faith
Interdisciplinary dialogue
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/4977
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