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As I’ve said many times before, I am not religious or a believer. But this guy has it right on the money and I couldn’t have said it better myself. The way things are right now, churches and other religious institutions are Petri dishes waiting to happen. https://twitter.com/revchuckcurrie/status/1263916057435095040">https://twitter.com/revchuckc...
If even *one* worshipper comes to service sick, it puts the *entire* congregation at risk. Viruses do not adhere to a schedule or a timetable when they infect. They don’t follow the stock markets. Their sole purpose on this planet is to find hosts and multiply.
This pandemic is not gonna stop just because POTUS or prayer says it’s time to do so. Different areas are going to be experiencing different rates of infection and have their own curves. You can’t put one blanket policy in place and expect it to work for everyone.
I’ve said before that the best way to flatten the curves that this virus is causing across the country is to let the state and local governments handle policy when it comes to social distancing guidelines and reopening businesses and institutions.
The best thing DC can do right now is to let the CDC set public health guidelines, let the states do their job at the local level in accordance to their own individual needs, and provide states with extra funding and resources if needed.
The last thing we need right now is religious institutions reopening en masse by executive order when it’s still not safe enough to do so.
There have been many places of worship that have chosen to livestream their services so that their congregations can listen to sermons safely from home. A worshipper shouldn’t have to needlessly put their life and the lives of others in danger so they could say they showed up.
For those interested in scripture for guidance, Jesus himself spoke against praying for show in Matthew 6:5. My dad, who is a believer himself, does not attend church and I think it’s because for him, there is no difference between public and private prayer.
I personally am a humanist and atheist, but I also support the right for anyone who wants to do so to practice the religion of their choice.
One can still worship the deity or deities of their choice without having to put their lives at risk when a virus as damaging as COVID-19 is still making its way around the planet and through our species.
This virus cannot be controlled by supernatural means. It’s gonna take human vigilance and ingenuity to kick COVID-19’s ass. Scientists are doing everything they can to fight this, and we as humans need to do our part. If you can pray or worship at home for now, please do so.
What Trump’s announcement has shown today is that he does not give one hoot about public health. This was done to appease his donors in the religious lobby. While religious institutions often do public charity work, their income is not necessarily the backbone of an economy.
Churches don’t normally sell consumer goods or conduct retail business. And legally they don’t do so for a profit, otherwise they’d lose their tax-exempt status. This is why businesses like grocery stores have stayed open and churches have not.
Spiritual health is not the same as public health, and I would prefer it if the government did not get the two mixed up. We’re experiencing a public health crisis right now, and *that* should be our number one priority.
I hope that anyone who comes across this thread at least reads this with an open mind so they can understand where I’m coming from.
My concerns are not out of dislike for religion and Trump, even though I have major issues and concerns with both. I have my concerns because of the great love I have for my country and for humankind. I want to see us (including Americans) win this fight against COVID-19.
