Megachurch Pastor Calls On Christians To Defy COVID-19 Guidelines Even If It Means Death

[justinacolmena]

Bottom line - shelter in place.

Nice. Until a lady calls the cops to press social distancing charges and I've got to flee town for my life before I'm recognized well enough for a warrant.

 

[Newtonian]

Of course, Easter is off topic but you brought it up and Easter Sunday is in 2 days

Some European languages seem to have the same word for Easter and Passover, and the Eastern, Russian, or Greek Orthodox Church uses a different method for calculating the date of Easter from what Catholics and Lutherans are used to.

I am blissfully unaware of the precise details.

Ignorance can indeed be bliss - until one dies of Covid-19 of course.

The KJV translation of Acts 12:4 reads "Easter" though most translations, including ours (plural), read "passover." The actual Greek word is pascha. See these translations including our Greek-English interlinear:

Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

This is an authorized Web site of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

wol.jw.org

False religions generally confuse the issue further with their use of words similar to Greek pascha but in reference to Easter, not Passover.

Jesus did not direct his followers to have a holy day on the date of his resurrection, He did tell us to observe the last supper - Nisan 14 - which is also the date of his death because the Jewish day began and ended at sundown. See Luke 22:13-20. Note that Jesus observed the last supper right after he and his apostles observed the Passover. And note of the last supper (which we call the Memorial of Christ's death - our only holy day) that Jesus said: "keep doing this in remembrance of me."

Btw the Bible does not tell us the date of Jesus' birth - but tells us both the day and hour of Jesus' death. If Jesus wanted us to observe the date of his birth (probably around October 1st) he would have told us his birth date.

You all - I hope your precautions protect you from this virus (or your immune systems) - hope you all are well. I am going offline for awhile. [Sleep is actually good for the immune system]

 

[Newtonian]

Almighty God held his tremendous Sermon on the Mount before multitudes during a 1st century Leprosy Pandemic.

This isn't "suicide", this is just one preacher's determination that this pandemic is being vastly overhyped.

BTW, Rev. Jim Jones was a devout Religious Leftists in the mold of Jeremiah Wright and Jim Wallis.

Further, categorizing this church as a "megachurch" is inflammatory to say the least. Libs have been denouncing large churches as if that's "bad" somehow.

There are other churches that are also taking a stand against the governmental authorities. The Bible shows that is actually taking a stand against God:

Romans 13:1,2
Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities,+ for there is no authority except by God;+ the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.+ 2 Therefore, whoever opposes* the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves.

Also, this virus is extremely contagious - those people who defy the government's direction to shelter in place will have innocent blood on their hands. They will share the virus with each other, and when they go shopping (etc) give it to others.

Jesus is up there shaking his head. He went around HEALING people, remember? He would not approve of people risking making themselves and others sick just to celebrate him in a large gathering.

I feel bad for believers; for deeply religious people, Easter is a much bigger deal than Christmas. The resurrection, the renewal, the forgiveness. There's the hot cross buns in the community room afterward, too, and the overpowering smell of 50 potted lilies on the steps of the altar, ladies in their new spring dresses and little girls in their new patent leather shoes. Kids all revved up on a belly full of Easter basket candy. Familiar hymns about hope. Easter is nice.

For some people, this is like taking Christmas away from someone who loves it.

Well, both Christmas and Easter are actually pagan holidays - but let those who are part of this world enjoy them - everyone has free will. Hot cross buns have their origin in ancient Babylon. Of course, hot buns are not the primary problem (but note Jeremiah 7:18), it is also the origin of the symbol of the cross.

See:'

Easter, Ishtar, Ashtarte, and other Evil Traditions

What Is Easter All About? — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

This is an authorized Web site of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

wol.jw.org

Excerpt:

"It becomes apparent, then, that Easter is a pagan name and that the event is associated with a pagan goddess of spring. But let us now go back to the time when Easter got its official start. It was A.D. 325, long after Christ’s resurrection. By now apostasy had set in and there were many false Christians, Christians in name only. The pagan emperor Constantine was one of them. Constantine, who was still chief priest of the Roman pagan religion, assembled a large number of these apostate Christians together at the Council of Nicaea. What was this pagan priest’s motive?

He wanted harmony in religion for political reasons. And so, as the book A General History of Rome tells us, “he combined in his own mind the two hostile faiths rather than balanced them against another—a state of feeling rather than of opinion, which is more common, perhaps, than is generally supposed.” Constantine thus blended the two religions, the Roman pagan religion and apostate Christianity. One of the results was that Constantine decreed that “everywhere the Great Feast of Easter” was to be observed.

This appealed to the pagans, since they had long been used to worshiping a springtime goddess of fruitfulness. To the Greeks and Romans her name was Astarte. The Babylonians had worshiped her by the name Ishtar and the Phoenicians by the name Ashtoreth.

It was natural that the customs and rites pertaining to these springtime goddesses and their worship would surround Easter. Thus archaeologists have uncovered carvings of the fertility goddess Ishtar. They found her holding an egg in her hand and a rabbit at her feet. Thus the book Great Catholic Festivals comments on Easter: “The eating of eggs on this day is said to have come down from pagan usage of the egg as a symbol of fertility.” And The Catholic Encyclopedia says under “Easter”: “The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility.”

Worshipers of the springtime goddess Ashtoreth had a custom of eating cakes in her honor. They called the goddess “queen of heaven.” Of Ashtoreth and her worshipers the Bible says: “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.” (Jer. 7:18, AS) Jehovah’s anger was kindled against his people whenever they adopted these pagan customs. But those who adopted the pagan Easter festival were not interested in following the Bible. They Christianized the pagan cakes, so they thought, by marking a cross on the top of them, thus the hot cross buns."

Of course, Easter is off topic but you brought it up and Easter Sunday is in 2 days.

I was being sympathetic; the topic is people still attending church on Easter. And I did comment on the topic first.
But it's interesting about the hot cross buns. I thought a Belgian baker began it a bazillion years ago. That's what I get for watching the Food Channel.

Some internet search engines hide the actual origins.

Yes, we can have sympathy for those who think God's law requires them to have large public gatherings. Especially since they are more likely to suffer and die as a result.

 

[Newtonian]

Bottom line - shelter in place.

Nice. Until a lady calls the cops to press social distancing charges and I've got to flee town for my life before I'm recognized well enough for a warrant.

Failure to comply is not warranted. (pun intended)

 

[Newtonian]

Being 6 feet apart may not work if you are downwind of someone who is a carrier of this virus. Interesting you stated "overblown" (pun intended).

Btw - masks are not 100% efficient - this also depends on the type of mask.

Wake up, sheeple. I have been driving around major highways and almost passed out behind the wheel due to a strong oder of acetone drifting from nearby body shops. Traffic is light, guns are banned, and the cops, hospitals, and auto repair shops are getting desperate for business.

OK, I am learning a new word! What is a sheeple???

I do want to say before I go offline how much I appreciate those in the medical profession who are risking their lives for us - especially those who are not provided protection (PPE).

 

[Polishprince]

Are you aware of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic that killed 20 million people on this planet - mostly in 4 months? Only the small island of St. Helena was spared. If we to not follow the scientific and governmental guidelines, 1.5% of humans on this planet could die. Thankfully most are sheltering in place and the death tall will be much less unless....

The predictions of these experts in the field of government and science have been wildly off. The estimates of deaths, and number of needed ventilators, hospital beds, etc. have been all over the board this year. Experts like the WHO have changed their recommendations and predictions constantly.

Right now, they are working on antibody tests for this virus, the whole story about this will be coming down soon enough.

 

[Newtonian]

Are you aware of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic that killed 20 million people on this planet - mostly in 4 months? Only the small island of St. Helena was spared. If we to not follow the scientific and governmental guidelines, 1.5% of humans on this planet could die. Thankfully most are sheltering in place and the death tall will be much less unless....

The predictions of these experts in the field of government and science have been wildly off. The estimates of deaths, and number of needed ventilators, hospital beds, etc. have been all over the board this year. Experts like the WHO have changed their recommendations and predictions constantly.

Right now, they are working on antibody tests for this virus, the whole story about this will be coming down soon enough.

The predictions were models as the task force has noted - data trumps models. The models were based on many things which, thankfully, have not happened - e.g the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 which killed 1.5% of the population of this planet in 4 months.

That could have happened if people did not shelter in place and practice social distancing when necessary. It could still happen - viruses mutate - it could become either more or less virulent than the mutated spanish Flu.

There are, of course, differences between the spanish flu of 1918 and the current strain of Corona virus:

The spanish Flu tended to kill people who had never been sick before because they had no flu antibodies while those who had the flu before had antibodies that helped them.

NO ONE has antibodies to Covid-19 until after they are exposed to it. Therefore, the death rate is much higher for those who have weak immune systems (like the elderly like me) or have pre-existing conditions (like me with high blood pressure and heart trouble). Totally different parameters.

 

[Rye Catcher]

Nonreligious Questions

Whether you’ve been turned off by religion in the past or have a question about one of the world’s religions, check out what Patheos has to offer.

www.patheos.com

The day that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for God is with us. Then he said, ‘fear not because I am with you’

And then the Bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies to be present with the Lord. So like any revolutionary, zealot or pure religious person, death looks to him like a welcome friend.

It is fitting to post this in "Religion and Ethics" with the emphasis on ethics. The pastor has a right to believe as he does, and perhaps even to sacrifice his life for those beliefs. However, he is a charismatic and persuasive person who has a lot of influence with his "flock" Like any group or demographic, you have people who are vulnerable and impressionable who will obey him.

In reading this, I could not help but to think of Jonestown:

Jonestown | History, Facts, Jim Jones, & Survivors ...

https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown-massacre
Jonestown, location of the mass murder-suicide of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in American history.

I am hard pressed to see how Tony Spell is all that different than Jim Jones. Spell uses the power of the pulpit- as did jones- to manipulate and control his followers. Spell is probobly mentally ill, as was Jones and both have or had a need to be in control at all costs.

This is one of those non-denominational churches and I can guarantee you this loon is not ordained. So. When the really crazy Muslim sects led by the really crazy imams say their stuff, you're also all over them right?

I am really looking forward to the start of Ramadan on April 23rd

Saudi Arabia halts travel to Mecca, Medina over coronavirus

Extraordinary decision stops foreigners from visiting Islam’s holiest sites as Middle East reports 220 confirmed cases.

www.aljazeera.com

Seems the Saudias care more about their flock than Donald Trump cares about his. See he date of this link: Feb 27, 2020

 

[Polishprince]

Are you aware of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic that killed 20 million people on this planet - mostly in 4 months? Only the small island of St. Helena was spared. If we to not follow the scientific and governmental guidelines, 1.5% of humans on this planet could die. Thankfully most are sheltering in place and the death tall will be much less unless....

The predictions of these experts in the field of government and science have been wildly off. The estimates of deaths, and number of needed ventilators, hospital beds, etc. have been all over the board this year. Experts like the WHO have changed their recommendations and predictions constantly.

Right now, they are working on antibody tests for this virus, the whole story about this will be coming down soon enough.

The predictions were models as the task force has noted - data trumps models. The models were based on many things which, thankfully, have not happened - e.g the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 which killed 1.5% of the population of this planet in 4 months.

That could have happened if people did not shelter in place and practice social distancing when necessary. It could still happen - viruses mutate - it could become either more or less virulent than the mutated spanish Flu.

There are, of course, differences between the spanish flu of 1918 and the current strain of Corona virus:

The spanish Flu tended to kill people who had never been sick before because they had no flu antibodies while those who had the flu before had antibodies that helped them.

NO ONE has antibodies to Covid-19 until after they are exposed to it. Therefore, the death rate is much higher for those who have weak immune systems (like the elderly like me) or have pre-existing conditions (like me with high blood pressure and heart trouble). Totally different parameters.

That's certainly true,that you have to be exposed to a pathogen to make antibodies to it.

But right now, its really unknown how many people have been already, and that's what new tests will indicate.

Red Chinese leaders and the WHO were very secretive at the beginning of this virus, its really impossible to say how many millions have been exposed. I was listening this afternoon to Nobel Prize Nominee Rush Limbaugh. He thinks there is a good chance America was hit with this last November and December already by COVID. Just for your information, Mr. Limbaugh is an elderly individual with a stressed immune system and suffers from serious pulmonary illness, he would be a prime target for this bug.

 

[Pogo]

Almighty God held his tremendous Sermon on the Mount before multitudes during a 1st century Leprosy Pandemic.

This isn't "suicide", this is just one preacher's determination that this pandemic is being vastly overhyped.

BTW, Rev. Jim Jones was a devout Religious Leftists in the mold of Jeremiah Wright and Jim Wallis.

Further, categorizing this church as a "megachurch" is inflammatory to say the least. Libs have been denouncing large churches as if that's "bad" somehow.

There are other churches that are also taking a stand against the governmental authorities. The Bible shows that is actually taking a stand against God:

Romans 13:1,2
Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities,+ for there is no authority except by God;+ the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.+ 2 Therefore, whoever opposes* the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves.

Also, this virus is extremely contagious - those people who defy the government's direction to shelter in place will have innocent blood on their hands. They will share the virus with each other, and when they go shopping (etc) give it to others.

Jesus is up there shaking his head. He went around HEALING people, remember? He would not approve of people risking making themselves and others sick just to celebrate him in a large gathering.

I feel bad for believers; for deeply religious people, Easter is a much bigger deal than Christmas. The resurrection, the renewal, the forgiveness. There's the hot cross buns in the community room afterward, too, and the overpowering smell of 50 potted lilies on the steps of the altar, ladies in their new spring dresses and little girls in their new patent leather shoes. Kids all revved up on a belly full of Easter basket candy. Familiar hymns about hope. Easter is nice.

For some people, this is like taking Christmas away from someone who loves it.

Well, both Christmas and Easter are actually pagan holidays - but let those who are part of this world enjoy them - everyone has free will. Hot cross buns have their origin in ancient Babylon. Of course, hot buns are not the primary problem (but note Jeremiah 7:18), it is also the origin of the symbol of the cross.

See:'

Easter, Ishtar, Ashtarte, and other Evil Traditions

What Is Easter All About? — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

This is an authorized Web site of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

wol.jw.org

Excerpt:

"It becomes apparent, then, that Easter is a pagan name and that the event is associated with a pagan goddess of spring. But let us now go back to the time when Easter got its official start. It was A.D. 325, long after Christ’s resurrection. By now apostasy had set in and there were many false Christians, Christians in name only. The pagan emperor Constantine was one of them. Constantine, who was still chief priest of the Roman pagan religion, assembled a large number of these apostate Christians together at the Council of Nicaea. What was this pagan priest’s motive?

He wanted harmony in religion for political reasons. And so, as the book A General History of Rome tells us, “he combined in his own mind the two hostile faiths rather than balanced them against another—a state of feeling rather than of opinion, which is more common, perhaps, than is generally supposed.” Constantine thus blended the two religions, the Roman pagan religion and apostate Christianity. One of the results was that Constantine decreed that “everywhere the Great Feast of Easter” was to be observed.

This appealed to the pagans, since they had long been used to worshiping a springtime goddess of fruitfulness. To the Greeks and Romans her name was Astarte. The Babylonians had worshiped her by the name Ishtar and the Phoenicians by the name Ashtoreth.

It was natural that the customs and rites pertaining to these springtime goddesses and their worship would surround Easter. Thus archaeologists have uncovered carvings of the fertility goddess Ishtar. They found her holding an egg in her hand and a rabbit at her feet. Thus the book Great Catholic Festivals comments on Easter: “The eating of eggs on this day is said to have come down from pagan usage of the egg as a symbol of fertility.” And The Catholic Encyclopedia says under “Easter”: “The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility.”

Worshipers of the springtime goddess Ashtoreth had a custom of eating cakes in her honor. They called the goddess “queen of heaven.” Of Ashtoreth and her worshipers the Bible says: “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.” (Jer. 7:18, AS) Jehovah’s anger was kindled against his people whenever they adopted these pagan customs. But those who adopted the pagan Easter festival were not interested in following the Bible. They Christianized the pagan cakes, so they thought, by marking a cross on the top of them, thus the hot cross buns."

Of course, Easter is off topic but you brought it up and Easter Sunday is in 2 days.

I was being sympathetic; the topic is people still attending church on Easter. And I did comment on the topic first.
But it's interesting about the hot cross buns. I thought a Belgian baker began it a bazillion years ago. That's what I get for watching the Food Channel.

>> Phallic cakes were offered as sacrifices in the temples of Pirapus and Venus. Cakes of a phallic character were also present in the German fertility festivals. Phalli of bread, which had been blessed by the priests, were carried, until quite recent times, in France at the Fête des Epines, a name for Palm Sunday. These consecrated phallic cakes were eaten by the women as a fertility charm. The hot cross-buns, which we now eat on Good Friday, originally were formed not in the shape of the emblem of the Christian religion but of the female organs of generation. << -- Psyche and Eros Vols. 1 & 2 (1920)​

So yeah, it was a bazillion years ago but way before there was a Belgium.

 

[james bond]

I think most of you are missing the boat. It's not about the pastor. Its about standing up for what you believe in.

I believe church is one of the most dangerous places to be as it's optimum to get COVID-19 there. Just stay home and find a new church. This guy sounds wacko and he may care about the money than the safety of his parishioners.

 

[SweetSue92]

Nonreligious Questions

Whether you’ve been turned off by religion in the past or have a question about one of the world’s religions, check out what Patheos has to offer.

www.patheos.com

The day that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for God is with us. Then he said, ‘fear not because I am with you’

And then the Bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies to be present with the Lord. So like any revolutionary, zealot or pure religious person, death looks to him like a welcome friend.

It is fitting to post this in "Religion and Ethics" with the emphasis on ethics. The pastor has a right to believe as he does, and perhaps even to sacrifice his life for those beliefs. However, he is a charismatic and persuasive person who has a lot of influence with his "flock" Like any group or demographic, you have people who are vulnerable and impressionable who will obey him.

In reading this, I could not help but to think of Jonestown:

Jonestown | History, Facts, Jim Jones, & Survivors ...

https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown-massacre
Jonestown, location of the mass murder-suicide of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in American history.

I am hard pressed to see how Tony Spell is all that different than Jim Jones. Spell uses the power of the pulpit- as did jones- to manipulate and control his followers. Spell is probobly mentally ill, as was Jones and both have or had a need to be in control at all costs.

This is one of those non-denominational churches and I can guarantee you this loon is not ordained. So. When the really crazy Muslim sects led by the really crazy imams say their stuff, you're also all over them right?

I am really looking forward to the start of Ramadan on April 23rd

Tu Quoque Fallacy dismisses itself. Next in line please.

I am not saying you have NO RIGHT to argue the case. I'm saying your agenda is wholly exposed. Which is not Tu Quoque, you armchair philosopher

Apparently you do not understand a Quoque Fallacy

I know Internet Philosophers shout "FALLACY" as if anyone here is trying to construct philosophical arguments.

Apparently you have no idea as to how to construct any sort of argument .

I am telling you they give liberals a cheat sheet of "FALLACIES" and they think this make them sound smart so they crop dust all over internet forums

It's embarrassing. For you.

Give it a damned rest! State your argument in favor of the preacher's leading his flock to slaughter or shut the fuck up

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution

 

[SweetSue92]

Almighty God held his tremendous Sermon on the Mount before multitudes during a 1st century Leprosy Pandemic.

This isn't "suicide", this is just one preacher's determination that this pandemic is being vastly overhyped.

BTW, Rev. Jim Jones was a devout Religious Leftists in the mold of Jeremiah Wright and Jim Wallis.

Further, categorizing this church as a "megachurch" is inflammatory to say the least. Libs have been denouncing large churches as if that's "bad" somehow.

There are other churches that are also taking a stand against the governmental authorities. The Bible shows that is actually taking a stand against God:

Romans 13:1,2
Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities,+ for there is no authority except by God;+ the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.+ 2 Therefore, whoever opposes* the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves.

Also, this virus is extremely contagious - those people who defy the government's direction to shelter in place will have innocent blood on their hands. They will share the virus with each other, and when they go shopping (etc) give it to others.

Jesus is up there shaking his head. He went around HEALING people, remember? He would not approve of people risking making themselves and others sick just to celebrate him in a large gathering.

I feel bad for believers; for deeply religious people, Easter is a much bigger deal than Christmas. The resurrection, the renewal, the forgiveness. There's the hot cross buns in the community room afterward, too, and the overpowering smell of 50 potted lilies on the steps of the altar, ladies in their new spring dresses and little girls in their new patent leather shoes. Kids all revved up on a belly full of Easter basket candy. Familiar hymns about hope. Easter is nice.

For some people, this is like taking Christmas away from someone who loves it.

When I was not a Believer, I suppose I told people exactly what Jesus was doing at any given time too. I really don't remember. But I know now, people who are not Believers are very, very eager to tell everyone exactly what Jesus thinks and does at every given moment. Believers tread a lot more carefully.

 

[SweetSue92]

Bottom line - shelter in place.

Nice. Until a lady calls the cops to press social distancing charges and I've got to flee town for my life before I'm recognized well enough for a warrant.

We have a family friend who is a police dispatcher. The highest volume of calls they have right now is all the Karens calling the police about "social distance" violations. Fact.

The police ignore them.

I'm disgusted at my fellow Americans frankly but not surprised.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Nonreligious Questions

Whether you’ve been turned off by religion in the past or have a question about one of the world’s religions, check out what Patheos has to offer.

www.patheos.com

The day that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for God is with us. Then he said, ‘fear not because I am with you’

And then the Bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies to be present with the Lord. So like any revolutionary, zealot or pure religious person, death looks to him like a welcome friend.

It is fitting to post this in "Religion and Ethics" with the emphasis on ethics. The pastor has a right to believe as he does, and perhaps even to sacrifice his life for those beliefs. However, he is a charismatic and persuasive person who has a lot of influence with his "flock" Like any group or demographic, you have people who are vulnerable and impressionable who will obey him.

In reading this, I could not help but to think of Jonestown:

Jonestown | History, Facts, Jim Jones, & Survivors ...

https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown-massacre
Jonestown, location of the mass murder-suicide of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in American history.

I am hard pressed to see how Tony Spell is all that different than Jim Jones. Spell uses the power of the pulpit- as did jones- to manipulate and control his followers. Spell is probobly mentally ill, as was Jones and both have or had a need to be in control at all costs.

Such is the reckless, irresponsible arrogance common to far too many Christians.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Wrong.

The Covid 19 protocols in no manner ‘violate’ religious liberty or expression.

This has nothing to do with the First Amendment or Constitution.

Indeed, there’s nothing in Christian doctrine or dogma which mandates Christians worship in large gatherings – particularly given the fact that during the advent Christianity worship consisted of small gatherings in private homes.

 

[Newtonian]

Wrong.

The Covid 19 protocols in no manner ‘violate’ religious liberty or expression.

This has nothing to do with the First Amendment or Constitution.

Indeed, there’s nothing in Christian doctrine or dogma which mandates Christians worship in large gatherings – particularly given the fact that during the advent Christianity worship consisted of small gatherings in private homes.

Especially in these days of smart phones, tablets and computers. Most of those in my religion were already using these tools when witnessing door to door (usually tablets). We no longer go door to door anymore in view of the pandemic.

My congregation will have tomorrow's public talk and Watchtower Bible Study by means of Zoom download where we can not only hear each other comment on the questions in our Bible study but also see each other. Instead of raising our hand to comment, we wave our hand in front of the camera and the study conductor calls on us one at a time.

 

[SweetSue92]

Nonreligious Questions

Whether you’ve been turned off by religion in the past or have a question about one of the world’s religions, check out what Patheos has to offer.

www.patheos.com

The day that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for God is with us. Then he said, ‘fear not because I am with you’

And then the Bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies to be present with the Lord. So like any revolutionary, zealot or pure religious person, death looks to him like a welcome friend.

It is fitting to post this in "Religion and Ethics" with the emphasis on ethics. The pastor has a right to believe as he does, and perhaps even to sacrifice his life for those beliefs. However, he is a charismatic and persuasive person who has a lot of influence with his "flock" Like any group or demographic, you have people who are vulnerable and impressionable who will obey him.

In reading this, I could not help but to think of Jonestown:

Jonestown | History, Facts, Jim Jones, & Survivors ...

https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown-massacre
Jonestown, location of the mass murder-suicide of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in American history.

I am hard pressed to see how Tony Spell is all that different than Jim Jones. Spell uses the power of the pulpit- as did jones- to manipulate and control his followers. Spell is probobly mentally ill, as was Jones and both have or had a need to be in control at all costs.

Such is the reckless, irresponsible arrogance common to far too many Christians.

Imagine "Clayton" typing out the sentence for any other religion.

"Such is the reckless, irresponsible arrogance common to far too many Muslims."

"Such is the reckless, irresponsible arrogance common to far too many Hindus."

Strike you wrong? There's a reason for that.

But if you could think better, you wouldn't be a Leftist.

 

[Blues Man]

Nonreligious Questions

Whether you’ve been turned off by religion in the past or have a question about one of the world’s religions, check out what Patheos has to offer.

www.patheos.com

The day that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for God is with us. Then he said, ‘fear not because I am with you’

And then the Bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies to be present with the Lord. So like any revolutionary, zealot or pure religious person, death looks to him like a welcome friend.

It is fitting to post this in "Religion and Ethics" with the emphasis on ethics. The pastor has a right to believe as he does, and perhaps even to sacrifice his life for those beliefs. However, he is a charismatic and persuasive person who has a lot of influence with his "flock" Like any group or demographic, you have people who are vulnerable and impressionable who will obey him.

In reading this, I could not help but to think of Jonestown:

Jonestown | History, Facts, Jim Jones, & Survivors ...

https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown-massacre
Jonestown, location of the mass murder-suicide of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in American history.

I am hard pressed to see how Tony Spell is all that different than Jim Jones. Spell uses the power of the pulpit- as did jones- to manipulate and control his followers. Spell is probobly mentally ill, as was Jones and both have or had a need to be in control at all costs.

I find it strange that such a godly man isn't putting his own life on the line by volunteering to help COVID patients.

He should do so and refuse to wear any PPE to prove his assertion that god will not let him die

 

[SweetSue92]

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The day that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for God is with us. Then he said, ‘fear not because I am with you’

And then the Bible teaches us to be absent from our bodies to be present with the Lord. So like any revolutionary, zealot or pure religious person, death looks to him like a welcome friend.

It is fitting to post this in "Religion and Ethics" with the emphasis on ethics. The pastor has a right to believe as he does, and perhaps even to sacrifice his life for those beliefs. However, he is a charismatic and persuasive person who has a lot of influence with his "flock" Like any group or demographic, you have people who are vulnerable and impressionable who will obey him.

In reading this, I could not help but to think of Jonestown:

Jonestown | History, Facts, Jim Jones, & Survivors ...

https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown-massacre
Jonestown, location of the mass murder-suicide of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. The death toll exceeded 900, making it one of the largest mass deaths in American history.

I am hard pressed to see how Tony Spell is all that different than Jim Jones. Spell uses the power of the pulpit- as did jones- to manipulate and control his followers. Spell is probobly mentally ill, as was Jones and both have or had a need to be in control at all costs.

I find it strange that such a godly man isn't putting his own life on the line by volunteering to help COVID patients.

He should do so and refuse to wear any PPE to prove his assertion that god will not let him die

This guy is a poser and probably a fake too. However I note the long trend of anti-Christians telling Christians:

1. What Jesus knows/thinks/is doing (even though they don't think Jesus is real) and

2. What they should be doing to serve Jesus (even though they don't think Jesus is real)

It's just funny at this point