# Omnibus "religious people who think they control the virus" thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 29, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616 "2020-03-29T19:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/262 "2020-04-22T06:08:15Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Tony Spell headed back to jail](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/arrest-warrant-out-anti-social-distancing-pastor-after-incident-bus-n1188381). It’s God’s will! ---
**Author:** ![mandala](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mandala/32/95_2.png) [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/263 "2020-04-22T14:02:11Z")
How come no mention yet of the [super-spreader event in India by Tablighi Jamaat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Tablighi_Jamaat_coronavirus_hotspot_in_Delhi) people? A bunch of Muslim worshippers and missionaries - ignoring common sense and repeated requests from authorities - gathered for worship in their thousands, and after that helpfully traveled all over India, creating a wave of coronavirus hotspots wherever they went. > [@](#): > > In a 28-minute audio clip of a sermon posted on March 19 on Markaz’s YouTube channel, Jamaat chief Maulana Saad called coronavirus an “azaab” (God’s punishment) and asked his followers to run to the mosques. He also called the assertion that people gathering in the mosque will lead to more infections as “baatil khayal” (falsehood). He was also heard saying, “This is not the time when you leave your prayers or meeting people just because doctors are saying. When Allah has given this disease, then no doctor or medicine can save us.” He changed his mind shortly thereafter, helped no doubt by the baton-wielding Delhi police, and quarantined himself for 14 days. Meanwhile his followers [spat on, beat up, and reportedly exposed themselves](https://www.opindia.com/2020/04/tablighi-jamaat-delhi-lnjp-hospital-female-doctor-attacked/) to the doctors and nurses trying to test them in Delhi hospitals. > [@](#): > > The reports said that those sitting inside the buses spat out in what are presumed to be serious attempts to spread the virus as much as possible. Meanwhile other Muslim prayer leaders had their own words of wisdom to offer the masses. One said not to use hand sanitizers because they contained alcohol which is haram (prohibited) in Islam, and instead _wipe their hands with their spit_ because spit contains “Allah’s angels who will finish off the corona.” I kid you not :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/264 "2020-04-22T14:49:43Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > _wipe their hands with their spit_ because spit contains “Allah’s angels who will finish off the corona.” I kid you not :eek: So this is the Islamic version of the woman expounding on being covered in the blood of Jesus, and hence safe from the virus. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/265 "2020-04-22T14:53:11Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > You know, it occurs to me that during the Tenth Plague of Egypt it wasn’t enough to just be faithful or observe rituals or whatever, the Israelites had to do something additional to protect themselves. (Mark their doorways with lamb’s blood, specifically). > > Well, maybe in THIS plague God doesn’t want the faithful to just be faithful. Maybe he wants us to wear gloves and masks and attend religious services on Zoom for whatever mysterious reason God has. Or maybe he’s punishing you for killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis for no reason. Probably not, as god is just a storybook character, but I wonder if that has occurred to anyone who claims the universe was created by an all-powerful being who takes an interest in politics and hates to see people going without hats. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/266 "2020-04-23T03:53:15Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > How come no mention yet of the [super-spreader event in India by Tablighi Jamaat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Tablighi_Jamaat_coronavirus_hotspot_in_Delhi) people? A bunch of Muslim worshippers and missionaries - ignoring common sense and repeated requests from authorities - gathered for worship in their thousands, and after that helpfully traveled all over India, creating a wave of coronavirus hotspots wherever they went. > > He changed his mind shortly thereafter, helped no doubt by the baton-wielding Delhi police, and quarantined himself for 14 days. Meanwhile his followers [spat on, beat up, and reportedly exposed themselves](https://www.opindia.com/2020/04/tablighi-jamaat-delhi-lnjp-hospital-female-doctor-attacked/) to the doctors and nurses trying to test them in Delhi hospitals. > > Meanwhile other Muslim prayer leaders had their own words of wisdom to offer the masses. One said not to use hand sanitizers because they contained alcohol which is haram (prohibited) in Islam, and instead _wipe their hands with their spit_ because spit contains “Allah’s angels who will finish off the corona.” I kid you not :eek: If there was a god of Science, she’d be rubbing her hands and saying “Hah, hah, bring me more morons.” And thanks for helping to disprove American exceptionalism in the area of stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/267 "2020-04-23T12:56:25Z")
I detect a slight whiff of Indian Islamophobia here, so just to note that religious/nationalist nutjobs on the subcontinent are [not limited to just one particular religion](https://www.dw.com/en/hindu-group-hosts-cow-urine-drinking-party-to-ward-off-coronavirus/a-52773262) and offering just plain bad information is [not limited to just one world leader](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51910099). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/268 "2020-04-23T13:53:09Z")
[SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22266136&postcount=20) is spreading her horseshit in the Quarantine Zone, which is kind of ironic, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/269 "2020-04-24T00:45:01Z")
Just in case you were wondering what [manure](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22266136&postcount=20) STL is [spreading](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22266274&postcount=26) over in the QZ, [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22266867&postcount=38) you [go](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22267237&postcount=48): > [@When did you last pay with cash since this began?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-last-pay-with-cash-since-this-began/852408/20): > > I’ve never paid any other way but cash. Not sure I could get my government phone to do so. Soon enough we’ll have a cashless society as predicted in Revelation. > [@When did you last pay with cash since this began?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-last-pay-with-cash-since-this-began/852408/26): > > Did I read right, or is it a parody? Bill Gates has a patent 666 for cryptocurrency? Are they that obvious, I always thought it would be sneaky or stealth, not right out there. I will never get that. > [@When did you last pay with cash since this began?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-last-pay-with-cash-since-this-began/852408/38): > > Revelation 13.17 on facebook there was this post I couldn’t copy which said Gates got a patent for his currency and the patent number was 060606. Maybe someone can find that, thought it was odd > [@When did you last pay with cash since this began?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-you-last-pay-with-cash-since-this-began/852408/48): > > Hug. Weird that the patent is pretty much 2020666. Facebook people are very excitable That’s some MLS (Major League Stupid) right there. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/270 "2020-04-24T01:11:17Z")
It Doesn’t say that in revelation? No one will ever have a cashless society? That’s Not the patent number? Smh ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/271 "2020-04-24T01:20:16Z")
No, that’s not what Revelation says, and 666 is definitely not the patent number. And, FTR, before cash was invented society was cashless. You’re shaking your head? Yeah, right. ---
**Author:** ![Ispolkom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@Ispolkom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ispolkom)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/272 "2020-04-24T02:24:01Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > How come no mention yet of the [super-spreader event in India by Tablighi Jamaat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Tablighi_Jamaat_coronavirus_hotspot_in_Delhi) people? A bunch of Muslim worshippers and missionaries - ignoring common sense and repeated requests from authorities - gathered for worship in their thousands, and after that helpfully traveled all over India, creating a wave of coronavirus hotspots wherever they went. > : And there were no Hindu religious zealots who also spread the disease? Or were they just not vilified in the Hindu nationalist press? Everybody loves a scapegoat. > **[As the world looks for coronavirus scapegoats, Muslims are blamed in India](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/as-world-looks-for-coronavirus-scapegoats-india-pins-blame-on-muslims/2020/04/22/3cb43430-7f3f-11ea-84c2-0792d8591911_story.html)** > > Muslims have been assaulted, denied medical care and subjected to boycotts. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/273 "2020-04-24T02:25:42Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > It Doesn’t say that in revelation? No one will ever have a cashless society? That’s Not the patent number? Smh Last time I checked, the Revelation of John said (roughly cuz I’m not looking it up right now.) ‘And every one had to take the Mark Of The Beast on their head or hand if they wished to buy or sell’ It doesn’t say a thing about ‘and they shall buy and sell without coin or barter’. The condition could be met in a society that still used cash. Even some conservative Christians agree with me on that. Such is the case in the film Judgement (With Corbin Bernsen and Mr T) you buy with paper currency in that film’s society. But without a ‘loyalty mark’ nobody will do business with you. Personally, (and I’m open for debate on this one) I don’t think we’ll ever move to a strictly digital cashless society. A world without cash would be a return to barter. I’m more confident in stating that Gates has not patented a vaccine. So no, that’s not the number. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/274 "2020-04-24T02:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Revelation 13:16-17 King James Version (KJV) > > 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: > > 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Yep, not a thing about HOW buying or selling is accomplished. Not a thing about a cashless society. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/275 "2020-04-24T02:36:30Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Last time I checked, the Revelation of John said (roughly cuz I’m not looking it up right now.) ‘And every one had to take the Mark Of The Beast on their head or hand if they wished to buy or sell’ > > It doesn’t say a thing about ‘and they shall buy and sell without coin or barter’. The condition could be met in a society that still used cash. Especially since it’s a reference to having Torah tied to your hands in forehead, per Deuteronomy 6:6-8. The idea is that such indicates devotion to the ideology of the Beast. In other words, only the followers of the Beast will be able to buy and sell anything. This is apocalyptic literature. Nothing is literal. It’s all references to the Old Testament and what existed of the New Testament (mostly images of Jesus as the Son of God, the Lamb, etc.) He was picturing something not all that uncommon, where those who were on the outs with the official religion couldn’t buy and sell. Not predicting some future tech that would let you sell things. Remember–this had to be something John thought would happen soon. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/276 "2020-04-24T02:40:17Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > It Doesn’t say that in revelation? No one will ever have a cashless society? That’s Not the patent number? Smh Just out of curiosity, and I don’t mean this snarkily: have you personally ever **read** the Bible? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/277 "2020-04-24T02:51:30Z")
Yes. You realize the technology is there, store scanners? Oh, sorry about the patent number, I had it upside down, those were 9s and 5s. Off to sleep ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/278 "2020-04-24T02:53:59Z")
The technology to tattoo a mark on people and say that only those with the mark can do business has been around since before recorded history. Again, John the Revelator doesn’t say a thing about a cashless society. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/279 "2020-04-24T03:01:59Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Yes. You realize the technology is there, store scanners? Oh, sorry about the patent number, I had it upside down, those were 9s and 5s. Off to sleep Good Lord, you’re dishonest, just like every single other whacked out fundie loon that disgraces this site, not to mention the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/280 "2020-04-24T04:34:10Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Good Lord, you’re dishonest No, just _profoundly_ stupid, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/281 "2020-04-24T05:15:20Z")
I am not ruling out both. And, IIRC, she’s female. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616.md?page=15)