Religion and Public Health

Culture war - is that a Nazi salute over there in the lower left corner?

Culture war does not stop for any stinkin' coronavirus

Meanwhile over at the Friendly Atheist, an article focuses on Tony Spell who is the pastor of Louisiana’s Life Tabernacle Church. He refuses to stop getting his flock together because dispensing aliquots of God to the masses is a service that is just as essential as provision of food and medicine.

Law enforcement sees it as a matter of public health. Spell sees it as another vicious secular attack on freedom of religion. The Friendly Atheist writes:

“Over the last two weeks I have worked with the sheriff, state police, the state fire marshal, Reverend Tony Perkins, and others to address this matter outside of legal action. Mr. Spell made his intentions to continue to violate the law clear,” [Corcoran] said in a statement. “Instead of showing the strength and resilience of our community during this difficult time, Mr. Spell has chosen to embarrass us for his own self-promotion.

[He] will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community.

The chief added that no one ought to frame this as a religious-liberty issue, emphasizing that the decision to charge Spell was taken for the benefit of public health.

Unsurprisingly, Spell, a superspreader by proxy, sees it differently. In his mind, the charges amount to Christian persecution. He told a local TV reporter,

“This is an affront, and an attack on all Christians across the world… If this is not about religion, then why are the Waltons not being issued summons and arrested for keeping Walmart open?“

Maybe because Walmart sells groceries, medicine, fuel, and tons of other goods that everyone needs? A-ha, cackles Spell: but churches like his are essential, too! What could be more essential than God?

“Nobody will tell us that we are non-essential in our society. … If you close every door in the city, we’ll close this [church] door; but we’ll go underground, and we’re going to assemble and congregate as God-fearing Christians.”

Interestingly, “underground” — roughly six feet — is exactly where some unlucky Louisianians will end up if Spell doesn’t quit play-acting the victim, and soon. The state is right to try and shut his risky operation down.”

More culture war -- looks like fun, doesn't it?

Posted by Germaine