Once again, we are witnessing a struggle between science and religious beliefs. This time it has become even more political as a result of states and provinces continuing restrictions on gatherings and rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. Some churches in both the U.S. and Canada have refused to comply with government restrictions on the size of gatherings, arguing it goes against freedom of religion rights. However, the courts have generally ruled that governments have a right to implement such restrictions as a matter of public safety, especially given the serious nature of the pandemic. Then there are the arguments by some churches against being vaccinated, again on religious grounds. This has major implications for ending the global pandemic and eventually establishing what is referred to as “herd immunity”.
In the U.S. alone there are about 41 million white evangelical adults. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center in February, about 45 percent said that they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19, making them among the least likely demographic groups to do so. In comparison, 22 percent of Catholics in America say they will not get the vaccine, despite the fact that the Vatican has concluded the vaccines are “morally acceptable” and has emphasized the immediate danger posed by the virus. A number of leaders of white evangelical congregations have been forced out of their churches after promoting health and vaccination guidelines. Much of the opposition is rooted in a mix of religious faith and a long-standing wariness of mainstream science. Opposition is also being fuelled by a broader cultural distrust of institutions and gravitation to online conspiracy theories, making such beliefs governed increasingly by political considerations. There is one clear unavoidable fact that the rates of COVID-19 death have been about twice as high for Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans/Canadians as for white Americans and Canadians. For this reason, despite over half a million COVID deaths in the U.S., perhaps these white evangelicals don’t believe they are at risk.
What is making the situation worst is the fact that religious leaders continue to mistrust scientific leaders by pointing to sources of misinformation on both sides. In the case of evangelicals, it is only other evangelicals who can really provide informed guidance based on the facts surrounding this pandemic and the steps needed to end it. Some leaders have already attempted to try to sway their followers towards the need for vaccination and to continue to take precautions in the short-term at least. However, as one expert notes, distrust of scientists has become part of cultural identity, of what it means to be white and evangelical in America and Canada.
As both countries go through another wave of coronavirus involving more deadly variants, both political and religious leaders are going to have to convince an outstanding part of the populations that is against being vaccinated on religious and political grounds. Churches also have a major role to play in poorer more vulnerable countries where there are significant evangelical populations. Simply put, trusting in God and ignoring the real consequences of this disease isn’t going to help resolve the problem of millions of related deaths occurring around the world. Whatever our beliefs, we owe it to our fellow humanity to help put an end to this scourge once and for all. Opposition to the vaccines and restrictions, whether religious or otherwise, has to be overcome sooner rather than later.
FROLITICKS 