How are religions explaining the pandemic?

[Pantheon]

Just curious as someone who isn't religious. Are religions giving explanations about why this is happening?

^^to overtherainbow

"Toddlerteaplease" To be fair many of them will be victims themselves and genuinely unaware that they are part of a scam. That is true of the vast majority of believers.

So I'd never really want to punish them. Only to stop them selling it on like a pyramid scheme. Rescuing them would be nice, but would be too difficult in most cases and they wouldn't want to be rescued.

Some will be cold-bloodedly exploiting people of course. I understand that Joseph Smith tried a number of scams before hitting on the idea of inventing a religion (Mormons) and probably put a lot of work into it

I would want to know why a God would allow something like this to happen

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@LastTrainEast do you have any idea how hard bishops and Archbishops actually work?!![/quote]
I'd be interested to hear more about this

I know the local vicar. Pre pandemic he worked hard. He tells me he's not doing much now and I can see he is thriving. I think he might retire early. (i don't go to church and I have never asked him what he tells people).

But I don't know what the higher ups do and how much is self created "work".

@KeflavikAirport

It’s like a parent, I answer most my children’s questions etc but not always with the answer they want or expect.

This is interesting, I hadn't considered this. I'm going to try and read up on it.

MeanMrMustardSeed oh you don't believe in god creating the world then? Was it aliens who invented viruses back in the distant past? and what about kangaroos? Were they god or some other creator?

I know many more educated Christians are finding the whole "god did it" a bit hard these days, but I can't see a way out of it without abandoning the whole thing. Each part of the story depends too much on the other parts.

@TinyCake

This is interesting, I hadn't considered this. I'm going to try and read up on it.

Sorry, hadn't considered which bit?

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@LunaHeather

I wonder if the we are saved is to save face... as they’ve predicted something, had a huge build up to it and then it hasn’t happened.[/quote]
Oh of course

LunaHeather "but what about people praying for it not to stop" Good point!

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@KeflavikAirport

It’s like a parent, I answer most my children’s questions etc but not always with the answer they want or expect.[/quote]
I bet your ways are not mysterious though and are kind not malicious.

Overtherainbow what kind of parent would let 2 million people die a needlessly miserable death to teach their children a lesson?

@KeflavikAirport

Well yes, I don’t agree with it and think it’s shit and it has made me question my faith more than I have before.

Islam - there have always been pandemics and will always be, referred to in religious sources as 'plagues'. We are advised not to leave or enter a place affected by a plague. Islam recommends seeking a cure for any illness, and teaches that there IS a cure for all illness.
The structure and guidance provided by my faith has helped me through the last year.

vacuumnomore yes plagues are mentioned in the Christian bible of course. The Egyptian ones for instance up to and including the grand finale with the slaughter of the children.

Created by god of course as are all things.

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@LastTrainEast do you have any idea how hard bishops and Archbishops actually work?!![/quote]
Agreed. Clergy work relentlessly hard

Us pagans, no revelations its just a virus and plagues and viruses are just part of the life cycle.

Wasn't aware that religions should explain the pandemic - it's a virus.

But if your God cares about you why would he bring about a pandemic?

As a virus that we all need to combat.

(Italy, where a disproportionate number of priests and nuns have died of Covid due to working with the elderly and vulnerable, especially in the early days)

Shame for the OP that the answers weren't quite what she was expecting. Still curious as to what religion LastTrain is talking about. As it's clearly not Islam, CoE or Catholicism.

I’m sorry rainbow, I don’t mean to be combative but I really don’t understand. Why was your faith not shaken previously by the thousands of people who die daily from malaria and all sorts of other scourges?

@KeflavikAirport

It’s a good question, and shamefully if I’m being totally honest I guess those other illnesses etc haven’t affect myself or my family personally for a year, which I know is shameful.

I

I have wondered what Mormons' take on this might be: there are various aspects to this that correspond to the prophesied end of days.
Also they are encouraged to have a year's supply of food storage for this kind of event. When I saw the preppers' threads on here I wondered then how Mormons were interpreting the pandemic, but haven't really considered it since.

I think that’s the most honest answer I’ve ever seen on a religion thread. I take my hat off to you.

@LunaHeather pre Covid my Archbishop friend had a relentless round of public engagements, meetings and paperwork. His workload is crippling. It eased off during the first lockdown, but now it's all zoom meetings. Which he finds much harder than face to face. He really misses going out to Parishes and meeting the people at the minute though.