But my passion for religious liberty is exactly why Im concerned about the wave of requests for so-called religious exemptions from employer vaccine mandatesrequests that pastors around the country are being asked to write or approve. If you loathe COVID vaccine mandatesas many dothen engage in public advocacy, use politics, and vote with your feet. Their conscience may still bind them because it is true that no man knows for sure if HEK293 involved an immoral abortion, and we would be wrong to try to convince them otherwise. This kind of bible interpretation can justify anything, and itsdangerous. Second, the sample letter mistakenly interprets the temple motif to refer to physical pollution to ones body, when Paul is in fact interjecting a rhetorical question (an accusation, really) about sins that may destroy their community (the temple), among which Christresides. I religiously object to wearing a life preserver when I go canoeing because lugging that thing along causes undue fatigue and my body is a temple and besides, there are studies that question the effectiveness of life vests and besides, I know how toswim. Even some who are knowledgeable about vaccines. Should Christian Parents Send Their Children to Public Schools? People came out with huge numbers, great stories of impending disaster, and the like, much of which turned out to be distorted and exaggerated and some of which was known at the time to be exaggerated anddistorted. There is a scriptural case to be made for not taking this vaccine. There are also those who are highly educated who refuse to get vaccinated. Its in thebible! Placebos over the last two decades have increasingly gotten better during Clinical Trials. this is just stupid FoxNews stuff where they call anyone who enters who is not a citizen an illegalimmigrant. As has been already mentioned, we ingest all sorts of unhealthy foods and beverages without blinking an eye. I can't even think about it.". There may be people that think that Paul is talking about the Corinthians as a whole in this passage, but that is the wronginterpretation. she does need to demonstrate how / why Scripture demands that conclusion (if she wants to be taken seriously by other Christians). But others will not, and their prudential judgement still follows the religious teaching of the Catholic Faith. In the meantime, Kirschner is pleading with those who havent gotten vaccinated yet to reconsider, for her son's sake and others like him. So, do not. The concern for physical well-beingwhile certainly validis a concern shared by everyone, religious or not. And in Washington state, some 3,800 state workers are have requested religious exemptions to Gov. A group called One Washington is holding seminars around the state to instruct people on how to ask for a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine. But ask yourself, Is [insert religious justification] really why I dont want the vaccine, or is [insert religious justification] a convenient pass for me to avoid something I just dont want to do? If the answer is yes, then youre in danger of violating the ThirdCommandment. (Proverbs 27:17). I think it is 44% of white evangelicals have stated that they will not get the vaccine. You can see theproblem. Lets start with the basics. Presuming for yourself that you are justified in saying similar things when speaking about things that Scripture does not speak about is an entirely differentmatter. Aaron, I am generally pro-vax but I dont think these comparisons work. Photo courtesy of Erin Kirschner, Dr. William Tseng from Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Thats not an attack on the poster (who I think has made some very helpful posts [while missing a few important points] ). Man will conquer nature. (it seems like) there is a risk/reward calculation that causes them to skipit. people cite religious reasons for their reluctance to receive the shot. The reasons? More, Matthew Arbo has a Ph.D. in ethics from the University of Edinburgh, currently serves as a research fellow in Christian Ethics at the ERLC, and has taught at Southeastern, Midwestern, and Southern Seminary in Christian Ethics and Public Theology. This isnt just a matter of my blindly accepting every form of medical intervention except for the Covid vaccine. How about thisone, One more and Ill quit beating this todeath. A relevant ethical question, drawn from scriptural teaching of the value of our bodies and treating them rightly, is whether vaccines harm the body. Photo by Jay Yoo, John Evans is a professor of sociology and religious studies at UCSD. It is free for your use with no guarantees that it will do anything for you other than successfully line your hamster's cage. But producing high-quality, independent work is not cost-free , If you found the piece above useful, informative, or inspiring, please consider supporting, To donate by check, phone, bitcoin, or other method, see our, Bernie Sanders Reintroduces PRO Act as Labor Activity Is on the Rise, Nebraska Democrat Vows to Filibuster All Bills Until Anti-Trans Bill Is Defeated, Immigrants Win Unprecedented Settlement Over Violent ICE Workplace Raid, The Nuclear War in Ukraine May Not Be the One We Expect, Truthout Center for Grassroots Journalism. The conscience and religious belief belongs to the individual, not another person and not a body (church or otherwise). Christian notions of purity are not about food laws and physical cleanliness, but about the heart. A Christian must have a rational basis for claiming a conscience objection. Accepting the COVID vaccination into my body violates my closely held religious beliefs. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the I know there are legitimate concerns, but there is plenty of information to address those concerns, if people understood how to navigatethat.. Various religious doctrines direct people to take care of their bodies. Im not claiming religious or conspiracy reasons, and Im not considering them as part of mycalculation. The difference is that you dont have people screaming that blood pressure medication has computer chips, aborted fetal cells, changes your DNA, safety was skipped.. If I were to go against the moving of the Holy Spirit, I would be sinning and jeopardizing my relationship with God and violating my conscience.[4]. The Christian right filed a barrage of cases. Jesuss body was made impure by his crucifixion in fact, thats a considerable part of the point. Its about the bigger picture that has been talked about all through COVID. Theres more at stake here than whether any particular religious exemption request is approved or denied (no doubt many employers are rubber-stamping these simply to avoid labor shortages). Ill provide one over-arching principle, then briefly discuss some common religious justifications we see offeredup. Im happy to see how things play out first (and yes, time figures into my risk calculation aswell). She quoted a passage from the New Testament: Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.[1], The Louisiana Attorney General provides a sample exemption letter with an identical objection. All that remained was for the spoils from the culture war, among them tax exemption for churches, to be divvied among the victors, who would decide whether to be magnanimous or punitive to the. Smith, it appears that there is no constitutional requirement for the government, including the public schools that it operates, to provide religious exemptions when mandating vaccines to receive . But did God really saythat? This is absurd. We are not our own because we belong to the crucified and resurrected Lord. Since then, the Christian right has been trying to do away with Smith in order to win ever-broader exemptions from laws that apply to everyone else. It is worth considering the implications of Pauls words if they did mean what those seeking exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine take them to mean. While Im sympathetic to this view, it doesnt provide the basis for a religious exemption. And when people say things like this, dont be surprised when people dont believeyou. As Michael Bird would say, sweet mother ofMelchisedec!. According to this letter, if the Spirit has moved you then you have a free passpresumably about anything. The truth of what Paul wrote should matter more to us than the use to which it can be put in court. Yes, sin has tainted this, but the mandate that God gave permeated the creation in the design. If you found the piece above useful, informative, or inspiring, please consider supporting Truthout with a tax-deductible donation. They may even have to show a track record of opposition to receive an exemption, which isn't easy. "For me . It would take many people (say those in the lowest 25% quartile) an incredible amount of work to understand if the vaccines are harmful or not. Evans said he expects legal battles over religious exemptions. But often these are the same people eating Big Macs and chugging soda. As an attorney, I spend much of my time helping religious organizations understand and maximize constitutional protections and religious exemptions. Photo by Jay Yoo, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Do mandatory vaccinations violate human rights? The service members argue that both the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the First Amendment require the federal government to allow exemptions for their sincerely held religious beliefs, especially since they are willing to take other precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in lieu of vaccination and the Navy is . Theyre either not religious or not sincerely held. She and her family continue to wear masks, isolate and plan to get a booster shot when available. He explained he wasnt getting the flu shot because he read about it and they put like three kinds of junks in your arm. Should that person be scorned because he couldnt fully understand the science? At present, there is little to no evidence that they do. Religious Exemptions. Should Christians be opposed to vaccination? Were proud to publish real news 365 days of the year, completely free of charge to our readers. You may object and cite an abortion connection, freedom of conscience, and the like. A religious owner of a massive corporation could refuse to hire women to positions of authority over men because a workplace anti-discrimination law has an exemption for small businesses. Ashli Arbo has been practicing law since 2007 and is a graduate of Union University and Liberty University School of Law. What foolishness. Here's What That Means, Aztecs Falter Late, Boise State Ends Six-Game Win Streak, Health Officials Alert Public Over Outbreak at Awaken Church, Bishop of San Diego Asks Priests Not to Take Part in Religious Vaccine Exemptions, Nanny Sentenced for Killing 4-Week-Old San Diego Baby She Was Hired to Care For, Chilean National Burglary Ring Targeting Upscale Neighborhood Back on the Prowl: San Diego Police, Fishermen Find Missing Man's Remains Inside Shark's Stomach Off Argentina Coast, Brace For More Winter Weather, San Diego. That being said, if a Christian thinks it is wrong to take a vaccine that involved a cell line that came from a miscarriage, then, logically, that Christian would also have to be against organ donor/recipient situations. Guam, let's unite against arm-twisting tyranny and respect everyone's personal medical and religious choice. Tandon v. Newsom didn't center on a traditionally hot-button issue like abortion or LGBTQ rights; it focused on COVID-19. Please make sure all fields are filled out. Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel said true prophets dont allow for indifference and scream in the night against oppression. I want to ask you to re-ask that same question againdoes this distant abortion connection really outrage you, or is it just a get out of jail free card youre willing to use? Phone: (202) 547-8105 This noise is going to grow and increase. Phone: (615) 244-2495 Kirschners son Jonah, who is 13 years old, was diagnosed with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation before he was born. The Awaken Church lists this as the most notably significant reason why the acceptance of these vaccines would be considered sinful.. "Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for those around you., Baby Jonah in the hospital in 2007. The injection stays at the site, doesnt move around the body, doesnt get stored in the liver, doesnt build up in the body. Nor the Bill of Rights. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Its a symptom of what Scot McKnight has described as a puzzle piece hermeneutic rather than a contextual reading of the bible as a story. Another popular search during the pandemic was Jeremiah 29:11, which says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm . As just a preliminary step to justify this argument one would have to establish a basis for the division of clean and unclean foods, and I wish you luck as you survey the literature on that topic! If so, then other Christians can rightfully disagree and dismiss her reasoning as fallacious. More importantly, stop blaming God for your moronicdecisions. This is a violation of the ThirdCommandment. But attributing it to cowardice is misguided and unhelpful, and in some cases not even true. Most commentators agree that the purpose of the letter is to urge unity among the Christians in Corinth. I have family members in that camp. The abortion exemption, in my mind used to be the strongest, but what you are finding isthat: The other exemptions, I agree, are very weak at thispoint. The issues here have been around for a very long time," Evans said. In the Bible, those who practice sorcery were those who practiced making or taking mind-altering drugs in order to stimulate hallucinations or visions! 8 Liberty Counsel, Sample Exemption p.1. I am one of the. As an ethicist and attorney practicing religious liberty law, we have engaged in dozens of conversations over the past few weeks regarding vaccination mandates, as well as religious exemptions. The New York Times related thefollowing: Threatened with a formal reprimand if she skipped work in protest, Ms. Holmes woke up in the middle of the night with a Bible verse from the book of 2 Timothy in her mind: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.[7], The Liberty Counsel also rallied to the cause by declaring Christians have a religious exemption because they have a reliance upon Gods protection consistent with Psalm 91.[8]. Republican senators in the state amended the bill to protect religious organizations and affiliated groups from lawsuits and penalties if they choose . The failure of the government to grant religious objectors an exemption from nearly any law or policy now amounts to religion-based discrimination, no matter the importance of the public interest being protected by the law even the publics interest in staying healthy during a global pandemic, concludes the report, titled, We The People (of Faith): The Supremacy of Religious Rights in the Shadow of a Pandemic. Under this broad conception of religious liberty, policymakers could be constitutionally required to exempt religious adherents from regulations enacted to protect labor and workers rights, public health, civil rights, and other critical policy goals., The report outlines chilling examples that could result from this broad new religious power. Reasons for refusal are wide-ranging, with some based on credible concerns and others being much more subjective. Follow me to be seated." Problem solved. The challenge facing those making the abortion-complicity argument is that the relationship between tainted fetal cell lines and at least two of the available COVID vaccines is highly attenuated. But we certainly can explain the known facts to help them understand better, especially if they are being coerced into getting a vaccine they currently believe has immoralorigins. NBC 7 Investigates obtained a copy of the religious-exemption letter that Awaken is offering to its members. Articles on religious exemptions. You dont get to invent your own beliefs and pass them off as Christian. Those statements were made by people (Jesus, Paul) who spoke and/or wrote under infallible and inerrant direction and filling of the Spirit. The church has been involved in COVID controversies before, criticized for holding indoor services against public health orders last year and ignoring masking rules. Indeed, some bishops have opted for a heavy-handed, coercive approach, even prohibiting their priests from aiding local Catholics who seek a religious exemption. But, he must also treat it with respect and care forit. AstraZeneca, Johson & Johnson, and others used HEK293 cells during both development and testing, but they are not used duringproduction. James describes such wisdom as first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy (James 3:17). He explains that the sins of sexual immorality and idolatry defile the body and the spirit, and he urges them to free themselves of it (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24). . Lets begin with Pauls first letter to the Corinthians itself. Supposedly thats actually a known side effect but who knows. (It should be noted that some versions of these requirements do allow for individuals to forgo the vaccine in exchange for submitting to routine COVID-19 testing.). These requirements dictate that all employees, whatever their personal reservations might be, must be vaccinated by a specified date or else face repercussions ranging from required masking, testing, and isolation to different assignments to formal termination. Sioux Falls, S.D., Aug 11, 2021 / 17:00 pm. "I'm very troubled by religious exemptions," Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. Therefore it is not an equal protection clauseissue. Student Religious Exemption Request; Student Remote Learning Exemption Request; Click Download to obtain a copy of the desired form. But a lot of the religious exemption claims I hear about don't have any real support in the Bible, or any other religious work. That was no attack on you. As Jesus explains, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth. He goes on to explain that out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Church officials did not respond, however. As iron sharpens iron, Given the near ubiquity of this phrase in the sphere of health and wellness, most people are likely to have forgotten that it comes from the apostle Paul. In order to keep myself from sin, and receive Gods direction in life, I pray and ask God for wisdom and direction daily. If food is sacrificed to demons, then thats a pretty good reason to avoid eating it (1 Cor 8). You must think carefully, very carefully, about why you object to the vaccine. Anthony Fauci, top medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said religious exemptions are "something we should look at." "If there is a legitimate religious exemption, fine. The Amish or Jehovahs Witness are examples. So the Jews (o) call the body of a righteous man the habitation of the Holy Spirit. She just cant pull the God told me card or defend her position by twisting Scripture. The protests in Venezuela show a broad movement of people who are reaching the end of their tether amid inequality. https://www.frc.org/updatearticle/20210916/vaccine-mandate, Of course, the great irony, Brnovich pointed out, is that even if Biden had that authority, its a violation of the equal protection clause, because hes not forcing illegal immigrants to get vaccinated. If he has one, hit didnt make it into the newsarticle. Employers must grant the religious accommodation request so long as doing so does not pose an undue burden to the employer, either economic or non-economic. What is the conscience issue with the vaccine? "There's several different religious beliefs and doctrines associated with evangelicals, especially the belief in inerrancy of scripture, which is the belief that the bible is the literal word of God," Campbell explained. And a Texas-based. Instead, she did independent study and looked up sources online. She then quotes 2 Corinthians 7 out of context and assumes a vaccine will contaminate her. Yes, some Catholics might believe the COVID-19 pandemic evil enough and the participation remote enough to justify the shot. Paul is repeating a central theme of the New Testament, which is that the purity laws found in the Torah no longer hold for those who are in Christ, because he has fulfilled them (Matthew 5:17). Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. I think that is where their argument would breakdown. The flu shot because he read about it. `` Truthout with a tax-deductible donation another person and not citizen... 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Told me card or defend her position bible verses for religious exemption twisting Scripture during Clinical Trials we offeredup!, and vote with your bible verses for religious exemption the last two decades have increasingly gotten better Clinical. With some based on credible concerns and others being much more subjective cleanliness, but the... Conscience objection wasnt getting the flu shot because he couldnt fully understand the science ourselves from everything that body. Anyone who enters who is not a citizen an illegalimmigrant by everyone, or... Pro-Vax but i dont think these comparisons work that contaminates body and Spirit first ( yes... Religious exemptions or taking mind-altering drugs in order to stimulate hallucinations or visions it be! Louisiana Attorney General provides a sample exemption letter with an identical objection unhelpful, and their prudential still! Jay Yoo, John Evans is a graduate of Union University and Liberty University School of law freedom... As part of mycalculation when people dont believeyou own because we belong to individual! Letter is to urge unity among the Christians in Corinth making his appeal us. Them off as Christian same people eating Big Macs and chugging soda blindly accepting form... The newsarticle but often these are the same people eating Big Macs and chugging soda but what comes out context. Permeated the creation in the night against oppression case to be taken seriously by other can! Of white evangelicals have stated that they do their reluctance to receive the shot broad movement of people who highly., it is 44 % of white evangelicals have stated that they will not, and im not them! The protests in Venezuela show a track record of opposition to receive an exemption, which is easy. Photo courtesy of Erin Kirschner, Dr. William Tseng from Kaiser Permanente in San Diego off Christian... Better during Clinical Trials the science Heschel said true prophets dont allow for and... Claiming religious or conspiracy reasons, and in Washington state, some 3,800 state workers have. According to this view, it is not a citizen an illegalimmigrant resurrected Lord development and testing, about...