Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Science and faith in the time of COVID-19

Jonathan Garber, DO
Physician
September 16, 2020
318 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a glaring trend has emerged, one that has long helped forge the American religious cultural landscape, but has now blossomed in full force, particularly within many Christian fundamentalist circles. As a physician who is also an evangelical Christian, I constantly live with the tension of balancing the practice of my faith and the results of sound scientific investigation with the opinions of patients and others within my circle of influence. In what seems like a near-daily eruption of both conspiracy theories and a flood of false information on social media surrounding the pandemic and its effects on social and religious life, the tendency many evangelicals have towards rejecting the value of critical thinking in favor of easily disproved or debunked statements about the pandemic is troubling.

The anti-intellectual tendencies within American fundamental evangelicalism have been noted and discussed for some time now regarding numerous issues from cosmology to climate change, but it seems that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted these beliefs even further. In recent months, numerous churches have been critiqued for gathering together prematurely in closed spaces within geographic regions of high viral transmission. Others have rejected the use of masks altogether or made them optional during large indoor gatherings. In late August, a well known conservative Christian pastor in California boldly claimed from the pulpit that “there is no pandemic,” blatantly misconstruing the data to propagate his alternative narrative on the situation. The many thousands in attendance that day relished the opportunity to cheer loudly in response and let off the steam of months of emotional turmoil. Finally! Someone has the nerve to call out that “the emperor has no clothes.”

The roots of this kind of thinking, where science and religion are at odds with each other, are deeply entrenched in the religious subculture of American evangelical fundamentalism at every level of religious life. From the macro-level of conservative Christian institutions, the Christian media conglomerate, and numerous national parachurch organizations, down through the layers of each individual congregation’s sermonic rhetoric, one can discern a pattern: the propagation of the norm that the findings of intellectuals and scholars in their respective fields are to be questioned if they do not conform to a particular traditional interpretation of the Bible.

The precious gifts we have to freely gather together, to practice one’s faith, and to express one’s opinions are enshrined in our constitution for a reason. However, what I perceive as a toxic blend of anti-intellectualism and religious nationalism can breed the idea that the pandemic is anything other than what it actually is, with beliefs ranging from it being the U.S. government’s attempt to take over our lives to a Satanic curse meant to distract people from their religious mission. The hard part about these kinds of beliefs is that there typically is a kernel of truth tucked inside, but unfortunately, that reality is smothered by layers of fear-driven rhetoric that distract us from this truth.

To be fair, there are those within the realms of the Christian church at large who have not been embroiled in COVID controversies. Many are conscientiously and cautiously engaging with the scientific literature and seeking to forge a path that allows for the practice of their faith in a reasonable way. I am grateful for these individuals who are willing to foster conversations that help people develop a mental framework for bringing together reliable scientific findings and deeply held faith convictions.

Stopping the spread of this infection is going to take a coordinated effort at all levels of society and from members of all faith backgrounds. It has been stated that “the scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind.” If my brothers and sisters in my faith tradition had a more cohesive approach to unity and led the way in “loving thy neighbor” by resisting anti-intellectual tendencies and embracing the results of sound scientific investigation, could we not set an example for those around us and help reverse this stigma?

Rigorous and careful investigation into the “book of nature” is a worthy task and should serve to buttress one’s faith rather than fostering mistrust in our leaders and hostility toward the scientific process, which is rampant right now, particularly within traditionally conservative pockets of American Christianity.

Jonathan Garber is an internal medicine-pediatric physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Patients alone cannot combat high health care prices

September 16, 2020 Kevin 1
…
Next

The flu shot is more important this year than ever

September 16, 2020 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: COVID, Infectious Disease

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Patients alone cannot combat high health care prices
Next Post >
The flu shot is more important this year than ever

Related Posts

  • Tragic optimism in the time of COVID-19

    Alexa Mason
  • Finding happiness in the time of COVID

    Anonymous
  • How to get patients vaccinated against COVID-19 [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • COVID-19 divides and conquers

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • State sanctioned executions in the age of COVID-19

    Kasey Johnson, DO
  • A patient’s COVID-19 reflections

    Michele Luckenbaugh

More in Physician

  • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

    Anonymous
  • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

    Veronica Bonales, MD
  • A mentor’s legacy in medicine, leadership, and embracing evidence-based care

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • Breaking free from restrictive covenants to combat burnout

    Raya E. Kheirbek, MD
  • From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

    Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH
  • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

    Jennifer Lycette, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Unlock financial freedom: The physician’s guide to lucrative multifamily syndications and wealth accumulation

      Pranay Parikh, MD | Finance
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
    • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

      Veronica Bonales, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • New Antiviral Option for CMV Prophylaxis After Kidney Transplant
  • Infant RSV Vax Heads to FDA for Review
  • Is Getting Test Results Online Right Away a Good Idea? Yes, Patients Say
  • Residency Application System Cuts Section on Hobbies and Interests
  • Workplace Harassment, Cyber Incivility High for Minority Groups in Academic Medicine

Meeting Coverage

  • Phase II Study: Bispecific Oral Drug Tops Leading JAK Inhibitor for RA
  • Closing the Diversity Gaps in Urologic Oncology Leadership
  • Certain NSCLC Patients May Be Able to Stop Immunotherapy at 2 Years
  • No Survival Benefit With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Rechallenge in Metastatic RCC
  • Happy Sleep, Happy Couple?
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Unlock financial freedom: The physician’s guide to lucrative multifamily syndications and wealth accumulation

      Pranay Parikh, MD | Finance
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
    • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

      Veronica Bonales, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Science and faith in the time of COVID-19
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...