RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THREATENED BY RELIGIOUS VACCINE EXEMPTIONS
Religious freedom is a fundamental American freedom, but many people who are not sincerely religious have begun to abuse it for religious waivers for COVID-19 vaccines.
If these people continue to misuse religion to avoid vaccinating, they threaten the availability of religious waivers for everyone, including those who truly need it. Already, many states are talking of banning religious medical waivers after an influx of people have begun using them inappropriately.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU SHOULD GET A RELIGOUS VACCINE WAIVER OR NOT?
Most Christians do not need a religious waiver because nothing about our faith outlaws vaccination. Because no denomination has explicitly discouraged vaccines, and many have actively encouraged them, showing just cause for a religious vaccination exemption will be a stretch for most Christians.
Some Christians who still want an exemption are applying on the grounds that the vaccines were tested on abortion-derived fetal cells from the 1970s. However, anyone claiming this reason should also have a history of abstaining from all other vaccines that were directly developed from these stem cells lines, not only tested on like the COVID-19 vaccines were. This includes vaccines against Chicken Pox, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Measles-Mumps-Rubella, Polio, Rabies, Shingles, and more. They should also not use Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, and other common medicines derived from the same line of cells as the COVID-19 vaccines.
Before opting for a religious exemption, it is important to examine if vaccinating truly conflicts with your religious beliefs. Otherwise, you might be endangering religious freedom in America by abusing rules that are meant to protect others.
SHOULD YOU CONSIDER THE COVID-19 VACCINES?
Evangelical and Catholic faith leaders are saying that vaccinating is the Christian thing to do.
Pope Francis and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops say that not only are taking vaccines “morally acceptable”, they are also a “responsibility” of every Catholic.
In a lengthy post on Facebook, Franklin Graham, son of the late Reverend Billy Graham, also assured Evangelicals of the morality around COVID-19 vaccines.
“I have even been asked if Jesus were physically walking on earth now, would He be an advocate for vaccines. My answer was that based on the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, I would have to say—yes, I think Jesus Christ would advocate for people using vaccines and medicines to treat suffering and save lives...So, my own personal opinion is that from what we know, a vaccine can help save lives and prevent suffering...Vaccines have worked for polio, smallpox, measles, the flu and so many other deadly illnesses—why not for this virus? Since there are different vaccines available, my recommendation is that people do their research, talk to their doctor, and pray about it to determine which vaccine, if any, is right for them.”
Ultimately, your decision to vaccinate or not is between you and God. You can access more resources on COVID-19 vaccines for Christians to help you with your decision by clicking the button below.