Sorry, but my right to live outweighs your religious beliefs. You can risk your own life, but not the lives of others.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/20/whats-really-behind-republicans-wanting-swift-reopening-evangelicals/

"Christian fundamentalism is often fatalistic. As far as many evangelicals are concerned, life passes quickly, suffering is temporary and worrying solves nothing. That’s not a view that comports well with long stretches of earthly time spent waiting out business closures or stay-at-home orders. It should be no surprise that a person’s deepest beliefs about the world influence how they measure the risks they’re willing to take.

"Former six-term Ohio Rep. Bob McEwen (R) is a longtime evangelical leader who serves as an advisory member of James Dobson’s Family Talk board of directors. McEwen told me this week that evangelicals aren’t rattled by covid-19, either the disease or the government’s response to the pandemic, because the Bible instructs them not to let earthly fears overwhelm them. “They steal your life, your liberty and your freedom by using fear,” said McEwen. “Man, on his own without God, will always be fearful,” he added. “But the Bible says, ‘Fear not.’”

"Evangelicals aren’t just twiddling their thumbs until Heaven beckons, of course. Most of them aggressively pursue careers, enjoy television shows, cheer their favorite sports teams, and take pride in the achievements of family and friends. They do good things in their communities, and sometimes they do bad things, just like everyone else.

They’re in no hurry to exit this world. But when ruminating over why there are millions of people who don’t seem to panic over a global pandemic or other life-threatening event, critics should remember that, right or wrong, it often involves a belief in something even bigger than people named Trump, Hannity or Limbaugh.

Death cult

Doesn't it all boil down to money? No parishioners butts in seats means fewer dollars donated?

Well, it's an opinion piece. I'm not convinced that the writer made his case. There is a middle path between being consumed by fear, and by being reckless. The evangelicals that I personally know are wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

The First Pentecostal church was fined for holding a Bible study with more exceeding the allowed 40 persons, and sued officials over lockdown measures. Wednesday night the church was destroyed by arson.

Spraypainted on the church's garage was, "Bet you stay home now you hypokrits." (Sic) (Sick)

It's fascinating seeing the connection between republicans and evangelicals and the covid resistance. What many pundits are troubled about though is the financial outcome that this mess has created. Did it warrant trillions of dollars of new spending, is it really the governments job to feed everyone. Basically it's just a different interpretation of what the role of government is. The article implies liberals think the constitution should be trampled every time a disaster occurs, and giant governments have to solve our problems.

these are difficult questions to grapple with, future generations may look back at 2020 and say "boy was that a mistake!" (not the cleaning, but the financial mess).

> . . . liberals think the
> constitution should be trampled every time a
> disaster occurs, and giant governments have to
> solve our problems.

The notion that liberals are trampling on the constitution is rich given what has happened to subpoenas, the power of the purse, the independence of the judiciary, and the standing of inspectors general under the present administration. So too the notion of the government solving social problems in light of the massive unfunded tax cut of two years ago.

There was a day when the GOP cared about the constitution, fiscal deficits, and national debt. That day is long gone, overwhelmed by the new Peronism.

macaRomney Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> these are difficult questions to grapple with,
> future generations may look back at 2020 and say
> "boy was that a mistake!" (not the cleaning, but
> the financial mess).

He who controls history control the future.

You mistakenly assume our future is one of an open society with the time and patience to analyze our past.