I’ve been pondering the connection between religion and disease ever since my representative, Randy Greenwood, refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and came very close to death. Rep. Greenwood’s explanation that God saved him made me wonder: Why him and not so many others? Or, why did God let him get so sick in the first place?
Many of us who are strong believers in one of the many religions might instead thank God for having been born in a time and place where the knowledge and resources exist to create ventilators and to develop vaccines. It is definitely helpful to find comfort in religious beliefs when we suffer loss, stress, or pain. Some folks, instead, might rely on family, friends, nature, etc. Whatever gives us comfort, as humans we were all given an ability to reason and to choose.
When faced with hard choices I often ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” In this case would he suggest to his disciples not to mask or get vaccinated because God will keep them safe, or would he encourage them to risk some discomfort with face coverings and shots in orders to protect the rest of the population?
Diane Clay
Litchfield
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