"Faith" Is a Fine Invention
by Emily Dickinson
“Faith" is a
fine invention
When Gentlemen can see –
But Microscopes are
prudent
In an Emergency.
– From a letter in 1844 to Samuel Bowles who was at the time the Springfield Republican newspaper’s publisher and editor. Mr. Bowles wants her to have faith that there is a publisher out there who will want to publish her poems.
Faith is one of the most central parts of our relationship with God. No matter who we are, no matter what our walk in life, there will be trying times for us. These difficult moments test our faith and trust in God. The COVID-19 pandemic – what is the relationship between faith and science during these terrible days? This news story may illuminate answers to that question.
More than 125 campers and adults who attended a summer camp run by a South Texas church have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement from Clear Creek Community Church Lead Pastor Bruce Wesley. Clear Creek Community Church is an interdenominational church based in League City, Texas, with five campuses south of Houston. The first case was reported to the Galveston County Health District on June 27.
Over the weekend, the church sent a message to its members announcing a coronavirus outbreak during the church's four-day youth camping trip in Camp Tejas, a retreat area located in Giddings, Texas.
The late June Student Ministry Camp for sixth through 12th graders was attended by over 450 people.
(Keith Allen. “Galveston church camp source of 125 postive coronavirus tests, pastor says.” CNN. July 5, 2021.)
"Unfortunately, upon return from camp, 125+ campers and adults reported to us that they tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, hundreds more were exposed to COVID-19 at camp," Wesley said. "And hundreds of others were likely exposed when infected people returned home from camp."
The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) is now working to confirm the cases.
"We're testing for the Delta variant to see if that's the cause for it spreading so rapidly among that group," Dr. Philip Keiser of the GCHD told KHOU. "It's a good cautionary tale for other churches considering get-togethers. Be careful, particularly when planning get-togethers for kids who most of whom haven't been vaccinated yet."
Health officials with the GCHD added that the outbreak may have affected kids who are either ineligible for vaccines or who haven't been vaccinated. Only one in five kids between ages 12 and 15 have been fully vaccinated, and only one in three kids between ages 16 and 17 have been as well, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has said the variant is quickly spreading throughout the country and poses a serious risk to unvaccinated people. He called the variant "highly transmissible."
"It will very quickly become the dominant variant in the United States," Murthy said in a July 2 PBS NewsHour interview. However, he also said that the current COVID-19 vaccines offer a high degree of protection against the variant.
Last Thursday, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky estimated that 25 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are now due to the Delta variant.
American citizens and health care experts fear that the variant could contribute to a wave of new infections following the Fourth of July weekend.
(Daniel Villarreal. “125 Church Campers in Texas Test Positive for COVID-19.” Newsweek. July 5, 2021.)
Vaccines and Religion
''God Does Not Want Us Wearing Masks. If you have a mask on, it means you actually don’t trust God. You don’t have faith.''
-- Right wing activist DeAnna Lorraine. During a livestream broadcast on July 18, 2020
(So much for seat belts, driving the speed limit, or locking your doors at night.)
A number of Christians have been against COVID-19 vaccinations.
Outlandish claims and conspiracies about the vaccines exist. Some churches and Christian ministries with large online followings – as well as Christian influencers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube – make false claims that vaccines contain fetal tissue or microchips, or construe associations between vaccine ingredients and the devil. Others talk about how coronavirus vaccines and masks contain or herald the “mark of the beast,” a reference to an apocalyptic passage from the Book of Revelation that suggests that the Antichrist will test Christians by asking them to put a mark on their bodies.
Elizabeth Dwoskin. “On social media, vaccine misinformation mixes with extreme faith.” The Washington Post. February 16, 2021.)
On the saner side, two groups that have been particularly hesitant about getting vaccinated are white evangelicals and Black Protestants, though both groups are skeptical for different reasons.
Some evangelical Christians have subscribed to myths about the COVID-19 vaccine and the pandemic. This group’s justification for not getting vaccinated lies in both their religious and political beliefs.
Religious studies professor Heidi Campbell said, “According to evangelical groups in other parts of the world, taking the vaccine is like saying ‘I don’t have faith and I’m not holy,’ and it’s challenging their faith in that way. And that’s one reason why the vaccine debate is not about personal health, but about freedom, since it questions their religious identity and their right to practice it in a certain way.”
(“Why are so many evangelicals rejecting COVID-19 vaccinations?” Research at Texas A&M. May 04, 2021.)
Many of these same people have fueled misinformation campaigns and promoted conspiracy theories. Some critics have accused right-wing fundamentalist pastors of perpetuating baseless theories that are encouraging their congregants to ignore public health information. This includes unfounded theories like the vaccine is the mark of the beast and could even cause sterilization in women.
Some Black Protestants are concerned about getting vaccinated given their tarnished past with dangerous health policies and clinical experiments that have targeted vulnerable black and brown communities. Healthline sums it well, “From the Tuskegee experiments – one of the most disturbing parts of American medical history – to the economic and cultural inequities in the U.S. healthcare system that disproportionately harm Black and Latinx communities, there are very real reasons why some people might look askance with skepticism and fear at the new vaccines.”
(Brian Mastroianni. “Why Some Black and Latinx People Are Reluctant to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine.” Healthline. December 18, 2020.)
Of course, the Bible doesn’t specifically address vaccinations; however, most religious officials do believe it gives people great direction on being good stewards. Christians are called to investigate, make informed decisions, and not take our life for granted. In other words, good Christians can seek out information and wise counsel as they trust that God can and will lead them into truth. Decisions about vaccines and preventative medicine are no different.
God gave human beings the intellect and capability to solve this problem while protecting ourselves and others. These gifts of grace are being put to the test during the pandemic. Vaccines, ventilators, hand washing, face masks, and healing are all powerful tools amid the suffering and illness
The battle against COVID-19 represents a tremendous feat of human genius and diligence. The dash from discovering a deadly virus to administering the first batch of vaccines in less than a year is a testament to a lot of people doing a lot of hard work. Medical researchers, public health officials, doctors, nurses, and first responders have labored heroically, day in and day out.
Christians should vaccinate because science confirms the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines. The act verifies the Christian principle of loving thy neighbor and solidifys their stand of not giving into fear mongering.
The Aftermath
Pastor Wesley said, “From the beginning of the pandemic, we have sought to love our neighbors by practicing strict safety protocols. We are surprised and saddened by this turn of events. Our hearts break for those infected with the virus.”
I sympathize with Wesley and the Clear Creek Community Church. The infection is horrendous and extremely regrettable. I pray all who suffer will survive with no “long haul” effects. However, I do believe a four-day camping trip involving hundreds of non-vaccinated people was clearly not advisable at this time. Conditions are risks should have been carefully considered.
41% of Texas's population has been fully vaccinated. About 46% of Galveston County's total population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (in the hopes of reaching a 60% to 70% vaccination rate).
As of July 5, cases in Galveston County have increased recently and are high. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has also risen in the Galveston County area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Galveston County is relatively low, suggesting that testing capacity is adequate for evaluating Covid-19 spread in the area.
Yet, an average of 34 cases per day were reported in Galveston County, a 53 percent increase from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 8 residents have been infected, a total of 41,239 reported cases. Right now, Galveston County is at a high risk for unvaccinated people.
“Tracking Coronavirus
in Galveston County Texas.” The New York Times.
July 05, 2021.)
It is obvious risk factors in Galveston were (in June) and are still present. The CDC advises attendees at large events increase the risk of infection and spread among those there. Much of this depends upon the following:
Exposure during travel. Airports, airplanes, bus stations, buses, train stations, trains, public transport, gas stations, and rest stops are all places where physical distancing may be challenging and ventilation may be poor.
The setting of the event. Indoor events, especially in places with poor ventilation, pose more risk than outdoor events.
The length of the event. Events that last longer pose more risk than shorter events. Being within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more (over a 24-hour period) greatly increases the risk of becoming infected and requires quarantine.
The number of people and crowding of people. The size of the event should be determined based on whether attendees from different households can stay at least 6 feet (2 arm lengths) Physical distancing at events can reduce transmission risk—for example, blocking off seats or modifying room layouts.
The behavior of attendees. Singing, shouting, not maintaining physical distancing, or not wearing masks consistently and correctly, can further increase risks.
(“Guidance for Organizing Large Events and Gatherings.” Centers For Disease Control. Updated.)
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