Retreat, rebuke, recite: outliers in church responses to the current COVID-19 pandemic
The article considers atypical responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by Christian leaders. In a three-fold classification it first identifies a retreat from civic life in resistance to lock-down restrictions on places of worship, demanding reopening on extreme readings of rights of religious freedom, a...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
2021
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In: |
Practical theology
Year: 2021, Volume: 14, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 8-21 |
IxTheo Classification: | CG Christianity and Politics CH Christianity and Society RB Church office; congregation |
Further subjects: | B
Coronavirus
B Prosperity Gospel B Covid-19 B Pandemic B Freedom Of Religion |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | The article considers atypical responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by Christian leaders. In a three-fold classification it first identifies a retreat from civic life in resistance to lock-down restrictions on places of worship, demanding reopening on extreme readings of rights of religious freedom, and refusal of mandatory mask-wearing. A second classification groups as ‘rebuke’ spiritual warfare approaches within the prosperity gospel tradition that take the virus to be demonic, from which there is a promise to be claimed of God’s protection and healing. A third classification gathers a range of conspiracy theories recited by Christian preachers. In evaluating the responses, a parallel classification of entombing conspiracies, endorsing public health measures, and engaging in civic life is proposed. Drawing upon the common good as a theological critique it is concluded that extremist Christian views present a danger to global public health. |
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ISSN: | 1756-0748 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Practical theology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/1756073X.2020.1860549 |