# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/41 "2020-03-30T04:42:27Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Dare I ask, what sex act? Ask and ye shall receive: [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sheet-dreams-are-made-of-these/](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sheet-dreams-are-made-of-these/) ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/42 "2020-03-30T06:27:28Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > The only reason I would point at video of this preacher is when a poster at The DailyKos , that investigates and denounces very ugly misleading information, talks about it: > > [Should we be shocked to hear this?](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/18/1928925/-Should-we-be-shocked-to-hear-this) > > This BTW was a video shown by one superior at my workplace, I did risk being fired by complaining right away when at the beginning there was a “the stupid, it burns” statement from the preacher, that anyone with the symptoms should never get a vaccine… when there is no vaccine available yet… and that is not how vaccines work. :smack: One is tempted to excuse this as desperate people in desperate times. In fact these are dangerous people in dangerous times. YouTube/Google (the video is on YouTube) announced that they were cracking down on this type of content…curiously there is still no appropriate category to flag it under. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/43 "2020-03-30T06:53:55Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > One is tempted to excuse this as desperate people in desperate times. In fact these are dangerous people in dangerous times. > > YouTube/Google (the video is on YouTube) announced that they were cracking down on this type of content…curiously there is still no appropriate category to flag it under. > > CMC fnord! I could only find Spam/Misleading and then Scams/Fraud, I did send it with the commentary that it is misleading people in the extreme about how vaccines work. No category or place to add this proper reply: 'Mr [del]Madison[/del] Sandy, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, \*\*and may God have mercy on your soul.'\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/44 "2020-03-30T08:09:19Z")
The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia seem desperate to lower their numbers [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-14/church-religious-groups-say-coronavirus-cannot-infect-them/12055476](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-14/church-religious-groups-say-coronavirus-cannot-infect-them/12055476) they are building an aged home next to their church in my suburb, good luck finding any elderly parishioners left to fill the beds come opening. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/45 "2020-03-30T09:33:02Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > There are plenty of them to go around, but the one that finally caused me to start this is Kenneth Copeland, [who commands the virus by calling it "doggone](https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/03/29/scamvangelist-declares-covid-19-finished-after-commanding-god-to-destroy-it/)." Oh, yeah, ordering god around always ends well…:rolleyes: > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > [Here’s an article a](https://apnews.com/446fff89d4bd7a7668da9940fc3bcdf5)bout 500 idiots who crammed into a church service in Louisiana > > These people are endangering human life. They are equivalent to drunk drivers - they don’t know who they might kill and don’t care. Yeah. I’d be inclined to allow the self-elimination of the idiots except their kids don’t get a say in what happens and they are now a danger to the rest of us. I don’t want their stupidity to kill rational, intelligent human beings. Actually, I don’t even particularly want to see the religious nutters get sick and die, either. > [@bobot](#): > > Well, you gotta hand it to the Pope, who seems to understand why he’s one of only two people in St. Peter’s Square. > [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pope-francis-blessing-coronavirus\_n\_5e7f22f7c5b6614922683db4](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pope-francis-blessing-coronavirus_n_5e7f22f7c5b6614922683db4) That is because, despite many deep flaws, the Catholic Church is more rational, more learned, and more reasonable that the whacko sects. Which is not to say I think Catholicism is in an objective sense rational or reasonable, just that it’s less batshit crazy. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Leaders of major Orthodox Jewish organizations called on followers to heed social distancing advisories. > > [Others thought God would protect them](https://www.amny.com/brooklyn/despite-coronavirus-jewish-residents-in-brooklyn-choose-to-celebrate-purim-together/). This pandemic really seems like it might take out some of the more whack-a-loon religious types, doesn’t it? The Jews in my neighborhood have been worshiping at home on the Sabbath and live-streamed Purim services. Passover will be a lot less elaborate affair than usual - I’m getting the delivery option since I live alone. Even our Hasidics are staying home and self-isolating. I guess what I’m saying is that not every religious person is an idiot. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/46 "2020-03-30T09:34:58Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Dare I ask, what sex act? It is like [Mexican Halloween](https://youtube.com/watch?v=VUhlW41jMZc), only reversed. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/47 "2020-03-30T09:39:03Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > curiously there is still no appropriate category to flag it under. > d! They could borrow [this](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tenor.com%2Fimages%2F4f71e09b728067e91320fd8f3a6148c8%2Fraw&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftenor.com%2Fview%2Fbullshit-airplane-bull-gif-5684543&docid=2VKGioxRsK1iJM&tbnid=AJLdC1l57MFpIM%3A&vet=1&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim). ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/48 "2020-03-30T17:32:11Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > And GOD said: “Well, I did send all those doctor warnings…” > > (based on this old joke: [Spoiler]A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. > > Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.” > > The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.” > > So the rowboat went on. > > Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.” > > To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.” > > So the motorboat went on. > > Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.” > > To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.” > > So the helicopter reluctantly flew away. > > Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!” > > To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”[/Spoiler] What you call a joke I think of as one of the very few pieces of glurge I actually like. I’m also quite fond of The Screwtape Letters. Re Purim Before the stay at home orders were issued, a local chasidic group made the news by cancelling their annual Purim fest. They party usually drew a few thousand. I’m personally more upset that I won’t be able to get together with friends for Passover. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/49 "2020-03-30T17:37:10Z")
“Scamvangelist”. I likey! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/50 "2020-03-30T18:35:37Z")
> [@susan](#): > > [Liberty University Brings Back Its Students, and Coronavirus Fears, Too](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/us/politics/coronavirus-liberty-university-falwell.html) Needless to say, [It is backfiring horribly](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jerry-falwell-jr-slammed-coronavirus_n_5e8177d2c5b6cb9dc1a2caad), both for him and the students that returned…and got sick. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/51 "2020-03-30T19:02:02Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Here](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52061915) is an Indian Sikh pastor who caught it at a Holy Moly festival and brought it home with him. It’s called Hola Mohalla, not “Holy Moly”. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/52 "2020-03-30T19:24:13Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > It’s called Hola Mohalla, not “Holy Moly”. Go during a global pandemic? Sounds like “Holy Moly!” to me. (Note–if this sounds to you like I am mocking someone’s religious culture, you are very astute.) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/53 "2020-03-30T20:17:19Z")
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-sheriff-to-arrest-rodney-howard-browne-megachurch-pastor-who-flouted-virus-rules/ar-BB11Vxop?li=BBnbcA1](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-sheriff-to-arrest-rodney-howard-browne-megachurch-pastor-who-flouted-virus-rules/ar-BB11Vxop?li=BBnbcA1) This pastor claims he has a machine to destroy the virus, and will cure the whole state of Florida. It’s one of those mega-churches. There’s a warrant out for his arrest, as he’s still had big services. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/54 "2020-03-30T20:19:28Z")
These Christians don’t grasp the difference between faith in God, and presumption of God. The former is faith, the latter is believing God will give you something He never said He would (i.e., safety from a virus when deliberately putting yourself in the virus’ harm way.) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/55 "2020-03-30T20:28:19Z")
I’m a Christian, and I think you hit it right on the spot. The pastor in the article sounds like a whacko. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/56 "2020-03-30T20:32:18Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-sheriff-to-arrest-rodney-howard-browne-megachurch-pastor-who-flouted-virus-rules/ar-BB11Vxop?li=BBnbcA1) > > This pastor claims he has a machine to destroy the virus, and will cure the whole state of Florida. It’s one of those mega-churches. There’s a warrant out for his arrest, as he’s still had big services. The article you linked says that they are _to_ arrest him, but [the article that _they_ linked](https://www.thedailybeast.com/hillsborough-sheriff-to-arrest-rodney-howard-browne-megachurch-pastor-who-flouted-virus-rules?source=articles&via=rss) says that they already have. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/57 "2020-03-30T20:45:02Z")
"A Florida pastor was arrested Monday one day after his church was packed with worshippers, despite a local “safer-at-home” order that was designed to help [curb the spread](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-latest-news-2020-03-30/) of coronavirus, [reports CBS Tampa affiliate WTSP-TV](https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/river-at-tampa-bay-church-arrest-warrant-hillsborough-county-pastor-rodney-howard-brown/67-16b7919e-3cad-45e6-b0d2-c1c14725e976). A [live-stream of the service](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb3NYFjO-BM) at The River at Tampa Bay Church showed its crowded main sanctuary. According to WTSP, the sheriff told church leaders they were in direct violation of the order that was issued by Hillsborough County officials and went into effect Friday. It requires that businesses and organizations considered essential abide by social distancing guidelines and keep people 6 feet away from each other or shut down. “We received an anonymous tip that Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne refused a request to temporarily stop holding large gatherings at his church,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Instead, he was encouraging his large congregation to meet at his church.” > **[Florida pastor arrested after church seen jammed for Sunday service during...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-florida-pastor-arrested-tampa-florida-church-jammed-sunday-service-despite-pandemic/)** > > Sheriff told leaders of The River at Tampa Bay Church they violated a local "safer-at-home" order to stem the spread of COVID-19. Is he a martyr yet? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/58 "2020-03-30T20:46:27Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The article you linked says that they are _to_ arrest him, but [the article that _they_ linked](https://www.thedailybeast.com/hillsborough-sheriff-to-arrest-rodney-howard-browne-megachurch-pastor-who-flouted-virus-rules?source=articles&via=rss) says that they already have. He doesn’t look like a giant shitbag at all. Fuck him. Hope he dies of it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/59 "2020-03-30T20:51:52Z")
“Give me God’s money, you suckers” ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616/60 "2020-03-30T21:01:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Needless to say, [It is backfiring horribly](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jerry-falwell-jr-slammed-coronavirus_n_5e8177d2c5b6cb9dc1a2caad), both for him and the students that returned…and got sick. > [@From your link](#): > > Falwell, as the Times notes, fired back with a tweet calling that parent a “dummy.” If only the Christian Scriptures had something to say, some guidance for how to interact with other people, perhaps [something Christ Himself had said…](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A22&version=NIV) > [@Matthew 5:22 NIV](#): > > But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-people-who-think-they-control-the-virus-thread/850616.md?page=4)