RT Article
T1 Retreat, rebuke, recite: outliers in church responses to the current COVID-19 pandemic
JF Practical theology
VO 14
IS 1/2
SP 8
OP 21
A1 Stoddart, Eric 1960-
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1756546479
AB 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.
K1 Pandemic
K1 Freedom Of Religion
K1 Prosperity Gospel
K1 Covid-19
K1 Coronavirus
DO 10.1080/1756073X.2020.1860549