“Birth of Coronavirus 2”, March 2020

 

The results are in! Thanks to everyone who took a few moments to share their thoughts about “where” we might find God in this pandemic. I learned a great deal through this and am thankful that I took the time to ask others what they think.

As  I read the responses, I quickly discovered three main themes. One theme focused on the very existence of God. In other words, if you do not believe in God, my question is answerable. Perhaps surprising to many, these comments came from retired clergy. I asked it of four and received two replies with this theme:

“In the last few years, I have had serious doubts about God and any religion. I am leaning toward the thought that all religions are man-made. If there is a God I suspect he/she could give a shit about our uncomfortable events on earth.”

And….

“I no longer use the word “god”. I have struggled with the concept of an objectified theism for a long time.”

“Objectified theism!?! What is that? Well, it is a position you might have related to if you knew it existed! To objectify means, “to represent concretely; present as an object.” We have objectified God in Christianity as a white man sitting on a throne, directing our lives. If you no longer believe that, then God is possibly a form of energy or spirit. The same person also said,

“I support a concept of love both as an energetic force and an action based on behavior.”

Are you surprised to hear what clergy think deep inside? Sometimes, including after retirement, we seriously begin to question what we preached! I am not surprised at all since I have the same struggles.

These ministers are not atheists but they are just exploring a different way to define God. One self-proclaimed atheist replied:

“For nonbelievers, disease, natural disaster, homelessness, famine are all just proof there is no wiser being watching over us.

I get this, too. I know that in the Old Testament we find stories about Yahweh’s wrath. Egypt endured the 10 plagues, including water turning to blood, a storm of locust and the killing of all firstborn children. There were numerous “crimes” for which Yahweh meted out the death penalty, including rebelliousness and premarital sex. Later, God promised to redeem and protect us, not punish and destroy. How can a loving God who made such claims send a pandemic?

 

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The second theme centers around the belief that human populations and cultures need a “cleansing”. This came up way more than I expected and from surprising places. The friend whom I called yesterday spoke of the possibility of the pandemic being an act of God’s wrath, which I expected. But, unlike other times when we spoke, he was not really sure and I was surprised by his somewhat measured response. His previous certainty about God’s wrath was gone, at least at that moment. He said,

“Maybe. God does talk about pestilence and retribution in the Old Testament, but I do not know about this current situation.”

After that conversation, I texted a gay friend and asked if he is hearing stuff like this, in particular, if gay people are taking some blame as usual. Their response:

“I read something the other day that said this is God’s punishment of those out of control, evil homosexuals”.

WTF. This really ticks me off and I asked him not to pay any attention. He seems to be able to slough it off but what a horrible thing to endure. It is like the old days when women who worked outside the home were blamed for all of society’s problems. It is tough being a scapegoat, so if I may offer advice, tell a gay person you love them, today! Right now!

I also learned that you do not need to be an end-timer or gay hater to wonder if the pandemic is all about cleansing the earth. Several people expressed a naturalistic perspective:

“Nature is taking care of herself, like she does in the rest of the animal world.”

“I think things like this happen naturally and may be a way of thinning the herd, so to speak. It happens with animal populations all the time. So if you think God has a plan, maybe that is it.”

And, those with alternative spiritual views (like New Age) also see something significant happening on a global level. For example:

“This illness is caused by an imbalance in human consciousness. The worldwide drastic financial imbalance is a manifestation of just that. Coronavirus is “here to clear”, bring back harmony.”

Unlike the idea that the pandemic is the work of a wrathful God, I find both of these other possibilities extremely plausible, and I comment on this in further detail in part three.

 

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The third theme arose from people who are certain that a spirit of God is alive and well in the world. They may or may not believe in an objectified God if I were to ask them, but they do sense a spiritual presence. This was the largest group of responders. Some of those comments follow:

“God is where he/she has always been: waiting for us to seek him and live within his love. His intent is for our souls to mature through our mortal life, and His message.”

“God still remains wherever we seek him”

God is.. “Available for consultation”

Yes! God is out there, somewhere, and we have access. However, some in this group were more specific about the “where.” An ordained minister who is still working said in such a classic pastorly way:

“God is found in the comforting wind, in the singing that comes from isolated balconies, and in the cheers for health care workers as they pass by for another day. God is found in the phone call made to the lonely, in the food delivered to the elderly and most at risk, and in the neighbors looking after the littlest so their parents can go to work and be heroes.”

Many others agreed that we find God in human behavior, for example, my own son who said,

“God is with all of us, a lot of good people doing great things for others right now.”

I am so proud of him! That is the message I tried to give him as he was growing up, that the evidence of our commitment to and love for God is found in the way we treat others. Other responses along that line:

“My first thought is, we now have an opportunity to use the brain that he gave us, then what a superb opportunity to practice the golden rule, now it is so important.”

“What if we adopt the golden rule and common decency and stop right there?”

As for me, I find some truth in ALL of the comments. But, enough for today! I want the ideas and opinions of others to work their way into our minds and hearts before I muddy the waters with my own thinking.

 

Stay tuned!

“Isolation”  March 2020