Most evangelical objections to vaccines have nothing to do with Christianity

[Nevilledog]

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Democratic Coalition
@TheDemCoalition
"In direct opposition to the Golden Rule, those who refuse the coronavirus vaccination show not Christ's radical generosity, but profound selfishness." - @MJGerson

#HappyVaxxedNewYear

Opinion | Most evangelical objections to vaccines have nothing to do with Christianity
In direct opposition to the Golden Rule, those who refuse the coronavirus vaccination show not Christ's radical generosity, but profound selfishness.
washingtonpost.com
8:35 AM · Jan 1, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/30/vaccine-resistance-evangelical-christianity/

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https://archive.fo/wRCHs

As the United States ends the year with the highest levels in new infections of the covid pandemic, the historical question naturally arises: Were a hefty portion of Americans entirely out of their senses?

Some of this rapid spread has come from breakthrough infections, caused by the insidiously transmissible omicron variant. But after a ghastly year of rumor, alarm and needless death, nothing is going to erase the harsh verdict against Americans in 2021: They were granted a miracle drug, and tens of millions refused to take it (or take enough of it).

In the grab bag of reasons for vaccine resistance, the religious exemption claimed by evangelicals is perhaps the most perplexing. The default ethical stance of Christianity is the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This principle was developed in a variety of other religious and moral traditions. (See the Babylonian Talmud: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah.”) In the New Testament, the Golden Rule is the moral culmination of the Sermon on the Mount. And it is clear from the text that Jesus is not encouraging a calculating ethic of reciprocity. His goal is to inspire a kind of aggressive, preemptive generosity. “If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

The proper application of this principle can be difficult, particularly when it comes to Christian participation in a just war. But the case of vaccination is not really a hard one. Here the tunic is the prick of a needle and a minuscule risk of a bad reaction. The result is a significant benefit for the vaccinated and the community they live in.

*snip*

[luv2fly]

1. Other than their fake and meaningless prayer...

Is there anything evangelicals do that has anything to do with Christianity?

[Buckeyeblue]

21. No. They tossed aside the biblical Christ a long time ago

But I would say that the Southern Baptist did the same thing when they used Christianity to justify first slavery, then racism, and on and on.

Doesn't the KKK claim to be a Christian group?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. The Vatican/Catholic Church says NO religious exemption on vaccination!

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Ocelot II]

9. It hasn't anything to do with actual Christianity, or any other religion:

"Most evangelical posturing on covid mandates is really syncretism, a merging of unrelated beliefs — in this case, the substitution of libertarianism for Christian ethics. In this distorted form of faith, evangelical Christians are generally known as people who loudly defend their own rights. They show not radical generosity but discreditable selfishness. There is no version of the Golden Rule that would recommend Christian resistance to basic public health measures during a pandemic. This is heresy compounded by lunacy."

Libertarianism is the codification of selfishness; mix that with religion and you have "heresy compounded with lunacy."

[VarryOn]

3. I'd be classified as "Evangelical"...

I've read the Bible through a few times. I don't see a verse or even a precept that prohibits a vaccine.

I've never heard once at my church that you shouldn't get one. We actually let the local hospital system use our facilities to host a Saturday vax clinic.

But, I certainly know there are some flavors of Evangelicals that oppose vaccination. I don't get it.

[walkingman]

6. I wish there were more like you (including my sister) but sadly evangelicals

are a large part of the antivax and Trump base. In my sister's case she actually believes that Jesus will protect her from the virus. That kind of logic is insane.

[Stallion]

7. Reminds Me of the Country Song "Jesus Take the Wheel"

hopefully Jesus drives a Tesla otherwise keep your damn hands on the wheel

[Stallion]

8. Reminds Me of the Country Song "Jesus Take the Wheel"

hopefully Jesus drives a Tesla otherwise keep your damn hands on the wheel

[VarryOn]

12. That logic is flawed theology...

It's the same as snake handlers'.

[brooklynite]

18. Does she have health insurance?

I would think that would reflect a lack of faith.

[walkingman]

19. She does - retired Navy. They don't ask permission to give you shots in the service.

For some reason she has turned into one of those "government can't tell me what to do" kind of people. She was never very religious until she moved next door to my other sister and then it was all about religion. I personally think it is her social outlet. I love her, worry about her, and have tried my best to convince her that her Jesus or Trump will not protect her from getting sick.

She now will not even discuss it with me. I'm not sure why anyone would not be willing to explain or discuss their opinion about Covid unless she knows that she is wrong??

There are a lot of people I know that do not want to discuss their religious or political beliefs unless you are in agreement with them----which I find weird---why would you be ashamed of your personal beliefs?

edited to add - I get your point. If she thinks that Jesus will protect her from disease then why have insurance - good point.

[walkingman]

22. I agree with your assessment.

[MarcATL]

11. It's the racism

Clear as day.

[TomSlick]

15. Same here.

My Church hosted vac clinics soon after they were released.

[Midnight Writer]

4. They are committing the sin of Pride.

They argue that they will be spared the fate of the rest of us because they are righteous and only those that fall short of God's Grace will suffer.

In other words, "I'm better than you! Dad loves me best! You're not worthy! Na na na na na na!"

[Shermann]

5. Well except for that whole anti-science thing

After the first time you tell the entire scientific community to eat shit, the second time is so much easier!

[milestogo]

10. I doubt Jesus had anything to say about vaccines.

But a lot of words get put in his mouth.

[Hotler]

13. Selfishness is one of the cornerstones of the repug (fascist) party.

"I have mine, fuck the rest of you." came long before, " Fuck your feelings, get over it.".

[dawg]

14. Very little of what they care about has anything to do with the teachings of Christ.

Authoritarian followers glom onto whatever they perceive as the dominant belief-system of their group, but they never do so in a thoughtful way. It's all about tribal identity and exclusion of the other.

I'm a Christian, although I'm sure many other white evangelicals would label me as a heretic. But many of them, in a different place and time, would be in the crowd screaming "Give us Barrabas!" at the top of their lungs.

[maxsolomon]

16. They do, in a roundabout way.

The objection is to the testing protocols which use stem cells generated from abortions decades ago (as have many common medicines: Tums, for instance). These Christians are completely opposed to abortion, as they believe it violates a Commandment from God: thou shall not murder.

The stem cells derive from murder of fetuses; they object to the vaccines on that basis. To the extent that Nick Rolovich gave up a $3 million/year job coaching the WSU Cougars rather that comply with the vax mandate.

The Golden Rule gets trumped by that Commandment, I guess. Anti-Choice Christians have a binary belief in the the life of an embryo/fetus - it's alive or it's not.

I believe the J&J doesn't use that testing protocol, so they really have no leg to stand on.

[mbromell69]

17. I personally have no sad feelings

when the fake bible humping anti-vaxxers dying from COVID ... screw em as those bastards don't shit say regarding:

HAVING TO WEAR SEAT BELTS WHEN DRIVING
THEIR KIDS HAVING TO GET VACCINATED UP TO 12TH GRADE

Same clan who takes COVID "advice" from the fully vaccinated FUCKER Carlson at Fox Newsless

[MineralMan]

23. Many Christians also think that Jesus praised the "Eye for an eye" concept.

He did not, at least as recorded in the New Testament. In fact, he did just the opposite.

Try pointing that out, though, when some Christian says, "Jesus said 'an eye for an eye.'" You'll get attacked.