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Original poster

How are religions explaining the pandemic?

147 replies

Pantheon · 14/02/2021 12:22

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

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 14/02/2021 16:09

He's also well past normal retirement age.

LunaHeather · 14/02/2021 16:19

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@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. [/quote]
That's kind of my question

Do all the meetings etc benefit anyone?

Many organisations create busywork.

LunaHeather · 14/02/2021 16:20

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@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.[/quote]
I am interested why something like this would make you question your faith when history is filled with pandemics.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Philosophy & religion
KeflavikAirport · 14/02/2021 16:23

Exactly. I can imagine very little would actually change if archbishops etc (and indeed the royal family) just stopped.

pandapop17 · 14/02/2021 16:29

They can’t explain it. There is the usual nonsense about it not being a punishment and faith helps us through. Actually covid has spread in my area because of faith groups continuing to meet. How is that ok? If God is real he’s a uncaring monster!

Also loads of churches will close after the pandemic due to loss in income from giving and hire. I also think loads of people are probably enjoying not having to go to church each week!

Toddlerteaplease · 14/02/2021 17:23

@LunaHeather of course they do. He's running a large organisation! And he's trustee of several committees.

LunaHeather · 14/02/2021 17:27

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@LunaHeather of course they do. He's running a large organisation! And he's trustee of several committees. [/quote]
To me that's not working hard, in some ways

I suppose I thought you were saying "he works really hard" to mean he was doing something important but I realise that's me attaching meaning the words, not you.

pandapop I hadn't thought of people enjoying not going but
I tend to imagine adults who choose to go. There might well be lots of relieved kids around.

pandapop17 · 14/02/2021 17:55

I come from a conservative religious family so am perhaps more cynical than most about religion. A lot of adults practice their religion out of duty and obligation. Or some love God but don’t really enjoy church. They just hate to admit it! I know a few clergy families who are enjoying their freedom right now!

In regards to clergy working hard they do but not more than other professionals. In general they are total martyrs about it as well!

ArosGartref · 14/02/2021 18:04

Why God allows evil and suffering to exist is a question as old as religion itself. Nobody on Mumsnet is going to resolve the issue.

KeflavikAirport · 14/02/2021 18:45

I can resolve it easily. God doesn’t exist. There, that was simple.

earsup · 14/02/2021 18:49

Friend lives in Crown Heights, new york, he is not Jewish but area is appx 90% Hasidic orthodox....they tell him its God's will....if you catch it and get ill and die....that's it !

ArosGartref · 14/02/2021 19:04

@KeflavikAirport

I can resolve it easily. God doesn’t exist. There, that was simple.
Yes, quite simple.
LastTrainEast · 14/02/2021 19:08

@Somanysocks

Wasn't aware that religions should explain the pandemic - it's a virus.
It's because religious people claim that god made the world and therefore he made the viruses in the first place.

Think about it. There's a parasite that in some countries attacks the eyes of children and blinds them. But if god is real he spent an evening designing that on purpose.

LastTrainEast · 14/02/2021 19:11

@StepOutOfLine

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.

Perhaps you could read up on the abrahamic faiths which all claim god created the world and is all powerful within it. That he is the only creator.

They have a book called The Holy Bible.

Fletchertractor20 · 14/02/2021 19:26

Think about it. There's a parasite that in some countries attacks the eyes of children and blinds them. But if god is real he spent an evening designing that on purpose.

This is such a good point @LastTrainEast but I fear you will never get a satisfactory response to it. There seems to be a lot of cherry picking from the bible - God made the lovely things but not the horrible diseases. Or God sends these things to challenge us - why, if the result is that millions of people die? Why isn’t it just the evil people who are dying from Covid - surely a good opportunity for some Old Testament style retribution?! It’s the same with praying - if a person recovers from Covid then their prayers have been answered. If they die then it’s because God works in mysterious ways. Surely God either intervenes or he doesn’t. And if he does, as a response to prayer, why is there still all this suffering??

LunaHeather · 14/02/2021 21:41

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@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[/quote]
I feel as if the polite response is to thank you for your honesty

My heartfelt response is WTAF. 😱

I recently found out a distant relative had "lost" her faith because if her son being diagnosed with chronic illness.

I wonder if if most adults base their "faith" on "I'm all right Jack"?

In which case, it's more like they thought they had a guardian angel or their own...🎤personal....Jesus🎤

But I wouldn't see that as believing in god or having a faith. Perhaps I'm nit picking over language. Maybe houses of worship are mostly attended by those who don't think about others suffering.

LunaHeather · 14/02/2021 21:41

@earsup

Friend lives in Crown Heights, new york, he is not Jewish but area is appx 90% Hasidic orthodox....they tell him its God's will....if you catch it and get ill and die....that's it !
I'm more comfortable with this than some of the other "explanations".
sammylady37 · 14/02/2021 22:05

@LastTrainEast

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.

The whole “god works in mysterious ways” nonsense is a convenient cop out for believers
Aixenprovence · 14/02/2021 22:21

"Also loads of churches will close after the pandemic due to loss in income from giving and hire. I also think loads of people are probably enjoying not having to go to church each week!"

Yes, I think the financial impact will be very significant.

Not sure about the second bit, but it may vary I suppose - are there that many reluctant attenders in 'normal times'?

LunaHeather · 14/02/2021 22:56

I was thinking churches have a golden opportunity here.

People sick of social media, certainly many Londoners realising that having your friends all not in walking distance is a pain - I always feel that - people sick of TV and social media and short of cash and wanting free tea and cake!

mootymoo · 14/02/2021 23:11

I work for the c of e, we are just praying that the vaccine reduces the illness and death because we are run off our feet delivering food parcels to isolating congregation, visiting the seriously ill and so many funerals. Plus we have 14 couples booked in to marry this year and we want to be able to fulfil their wishes. Oh and please can I get vaccinated ASAP, I'm worried having to meet people

pandapop17 · 14/02/2021 23:18

@Aixenprovence

"Also loads of churches will close after the pandemic due to loss in income from giving and hire. I also think loads of people are probably enjoying not having to go to church each week!"

Yes, I think the financial impact will be very significant.

Not sure about the second bit, but it may vary I suppose - are there that many reluctant attenders in 'normal times'?

There are many reluctant attendees in all faiths. If you are part of a conservative religious community the pressure is huge.
LunaHeather · 15/02/2021 00:59

Panda "There are many reluctant attendees in all faiths. If you are part of a conservative religious community the pressure is huge."

But...adults gonna adult?

everythingbackbutyou · 15/02/2021 03:14

@LastTrainEast, as usual it's gloves off for attacking Christians and taking the piss out of their beliefs, in a way that would be viewed with much less acceptance if the target was Muslims, Jews, Hindus or Sikhs. As a Christian, the fact that so many people are totally cool with this is beyond frustrating.

starrynight21 · 15/02/2021 03:17

A lot of churches said that AIDS was a punishment on victims because of their sexuality. After that, nothing would surprise me.