T
The_Old_Maid
Guest
Thank you all for your responses.
I have a few areas of concern. One is that the numbers can only reflect those who are known to be exposed. I expect that those who know they are vulnerable are probably remaining at home. If they are lured out into the open, or if the disease is brought into their home, those numbers will increase.
But they aren’t numbers. Every person is created in the image of God. Every death almost is like the loss of nations. (Trivia: God said that Abel’s “bloods”, plural cried out, as if all who will never be born from Abel cried out.)
They also aren’t numbers if it’s someone we know.
However, healthy people also die of this disease. I’ve heard critics try to massage those deaths away, insisting that the person must have some underlying illness. I would disagree. Sometimes we are simply unlucky.
The issue of “herd immunity” keeps coming back to the perception, with which I disagree, that COVID-19 can be diluted if spread among enough people. I would argue that our population would be shrunk if the disease kills enough people. Those who survive are as immune as anyone can be. Too bad for those who fell by the wayside. But I think we have a moral responsibility to prevent those deaths by the wayside.
Let me put it another way. If I were being snarky or unkind, I could cite the reductio ad absurdum logic fallacy. (That is, to mention the most trivial and silly outcome, then to elevate it to great importance, then to demolish it through logical argument.) By reductio ad absurdum, “COVID parties are commendable because they promote herd immunity.” Well, you see the problem.
As for the quoted Bible verses, I respect what you are trying to do. And if the thread were about comfort in our fears or doubts, I probably would quote the same verses.
But my objections to “herd immunity” are not based on fears, doubts, or the need to address them. I am saying that the term misleads, therefore may do harm.
When our Lord was tempted in the wilderness, the Devil also quoted Psalms 91:11-12. Jesus replied (Matthew 4:7, Luke 4:12), “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Deut. 6:16, Isaiah 7:12, I Corinthians 10:9, etc.).
As I said, I would have quoted Psalms 91, etc. in other contexts. They are high and wonderful words of comfort.
But there are times when humanity finds itself in a situation, makes it worse, and asks God to clean up the mess. Prosperity Gospel in particular is a teaching in which both Bible verses and world events make the most sense when the suffering only happens to someone else.
Or, again, if I were being unkind, a way of saying, “if that person had not sinned, they would not have died. God promised to protect them, right?” Which is why an excellent verse may not be a comforting fit for that moment in time.
It may sound off-topic, but it isn’t really. Maybe the news coverage is different in different places. But I heard a politician saying that if the old folks really loved their young folks, they would be willing to risk their lives to get the economy open sooner. Expose the herd! Then “we” can get on with our lives (the ones who live, that is).
I have a few areas of concern. One is that the numbers can only reflect those who are known to be exposed. I expect that those who know they are vulnerable are probably remaining at home. If they are lured out into the open, or if the disease is brought into their home, those numbers will increase.
But they aren’t numbers. Every person is created in the image of God. Every death almost is like the loss of nations. (Trivia: God said that Abel’s “bloods”, plural cried out, as if all who will never be born from Abel cried out.)
They also aren’t numbers if it’s someone we know.
However, healthy people also die of this disease. I’ve heard critics try to massage those deaths away, insisting that the person must have some underlying illness. I would disagree. Sometimes we are simply unlucky.
The issue of “herd immunity” keeps coming back to the perception, with which I disagree, that COVID-19 can be diluted if spread among enough people. I would argue that our population would be shrunk if the disease kills enough people. Those who survive are as immune as anyone can be. Too bad for those who fell by the wayside. But I think we have a moral responsibility to prevent those deaths by the wayside.
Let me put it another way. If I were being snarky or unkind, I could cite the reductio ad absurdum logic fallacy. (That is, to mention the most trivial and silly outcome, then to elevate it to great importance, then to demolish it through logical argument.) By reductio ad absurdum, “COVID parties are commendable because they promote herd immunity.” Well, you see the problem.
As for the quoted Bible verses, I respect what you are trying to do. And if the thread were about comfort in our fears or doubts, I probably would quote the same verses.
But my objections to “herd immunity” are not based on fears, doubts, or the need to address them. I am saying that the term misleads, therefore may do harm.
When our Lord was tempted in the wilderness, the Devil also quoted Psalms 91:11-12. Jesus replied (Matthew 4:7, Luke 4:12), “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Deut. 6:16, Isaiah 7:12, I Corinthians 10:9, etc.).
As I said, I would have quoted Psalms 91, etc. in other contexts. They are high and wonderful words of comfort.
But there are times when humanity finds itself in a situation, makes it worse, and asks God to clean up the mess. Prosperity Gospel in particular is a teaching in which both Bible verses and world events make the most sense when the suffering only happens to someone else.
Or, again, if I were being unkind, a way of saying, “if that person had not sinned, they would not have died. God promised to protect them, right?” Which is why an excellent verse may not be a comforting fit for that moment in time.
It may sound off-topic, but it isn’t really. Maybe the news coverage is different in different places. But I heard a politician saying that if the old folks really loved their young folks, they would be willing to risk their lives to get the economy open sooner. Expose the herd! Then “we” can get on with our lives (the ones who live, that is).
