Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 8-21 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Practical Theology |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| Early online date | 14 Feb 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2021 |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- Public health
- Churches
- Prosperity gospel
- Lock-down
- Pandemic
- Freedom of religion
Access to Document
- Stoddart_2021_PT_Retreat_AAm
Copyright © Contact Pastoral Trust 2021. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/1756073X.2020.1860549