User:JuliusXenyo

RELIGION VS SCIENCE: THE NEED FOR A FAIR BALANCE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 BY SAMUEL Y. XENYO

I once said to a group of people during a discussion that, ‘I have always considered myself a rational-fideist’ COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) has come as a good test of my stance. I seek not to defend any man of God (believer) or consider any to be wrong just because someone said so. In another vein, I will not allow anyone to swallow hook, line, and sinker or consider every scientific theory perfect or treat any as false dichotomy (false dilemma) that kills one’s faith in God and suppresses his/her fundamental human rights. The American Heritage Dictionary defines religion as “Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator and governor of the universe; a particular integrated system of this expression; the spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognizes the existence of a superhuman power or powers.” E. B. Tylor summed it up as “Belief in spiritual things.” Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines science as “knowledge about the natural world that is based on facts learned through experiments and observations” (e.g. Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Few months ago, a Prophet of God said COVID-19 was going to disappear just as it came by 27th March, 2020. Yes, I agree with your value judgement on this issue. But, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he later explained that his prophecy was meant for Wuhan in China. Another Prophet prophesied in Nigeria that coronavirus pandemic was going to come to an end by 28th April, 2020. Here we are still waiting for its fulfillment. Similarly, scientists made it clear to us at the early part of this year that “the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was generally considered not to be airborne” but now, it is a possibility. The new scientific debate is, as to whether coronavirus is a bacteria or virus? I was not surprised at this because in 2006, at the 26th General Assembly of Astronomical Union (AU), the tentative nature of scientific theories was proven when Pluto was excluded from the solar system as one of the nine (9) planets and now considered as a dwarf planet. What then should be the stand point of the fideist only or the rationalist only? I pray you, read this message a bit further. I will do my best possible to explain to your level of understanding every term or concept to be used in this article. Fideism is an epistemological theory which maintains that faith is independent of reason, or that reason and faith are hostile to each other and faith is superior at arriving at particular truths. The word fideism comes from fides, the Latin word for faith, and literally means “faith-ism” [faith only]. Brand Blanshard described Rationalism as “the view that regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge [reason only]. Holding that reality itself has an inherently logical structure, the rationalist asserts that a class of truths exists that the intellect can grasp directly. There are, according to the rationalists, certain rational principles especially in logic and mathematics, and even in ethics and metaphysics that are so fundamental that to deny them is to fall into contradiction. The rationalists’ confidence in reason and proof tends, therefore, to detract from their respect for other ways of knowing.” In my candid opinion, one of the other ways of knowing may be empiricism which is scientific (scientific knowledge). Empiricism is the theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses (by the use of the sense organs). This is stimulated by the rise of experimental science. It developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, expounded in particular by John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume. In philosophy, empiricism is a theory which states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. Empiricism so much emphasizes the role of empirical evidence in the formation of ideas, rather than innate ideas or traditions. As Rationalism holds the view that truth should be determined by reason and factual analysis, rather than faith, dogma, tradition or religious teaching; Fideism on the other hand holds that faith is necessary, and that beliefs may be held without any evidence or reason and even in conflict with evidence and reason. In a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic, which way should the Ghanaian whether a Christian, Muslim or Traditional African believer go? Let us consider the following biblical scriptures to buttress a point well-made by a Ghanaian Ewe adage which says: “You can have blood in your mouth and still spit saliva.” And the popular saying that sounds biblical: “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” Proverbs 11:1 says: “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.” KJV. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren [dead]?” (James 2:19-20, RSV). According to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which was first published in 2004 and revised in 2017; just as rationalism and fideism do not agree with each other, there is a dispute between rationalism and empiricism too. The dispute between rationalism and empiricism concerns the extent to which we are dependent upon sense experience in our effort to gain knowledge. Rationalists claim that there are significant ways in which our concepts and knowledge are gained independently of sense experience. Empiricists claim that sense experience is the ultimate source of all our concepts and knowledge. Empiricism says: knowledge is derived from experience/experimentation; experimental science is the paradigm of knowledge and experimental science cannot produce certainty. On the other hand, Rationalism says: knowledge is derived from reason and logic; mathematics or philosophy is the paradigm of knowledge and genuine knowledge is certain because it is rational, not empirical. The above views and many more based on philosophy of life, science and religion are some of the factors responsible for failure on the part of some Ghanaians (including some health professionals such as Doctors and Nurses) to have problems with strict adherence to the protocols outlined for the fight against COVID-19 as proposed by Ghana Health Service. Even so, various Regional Coordinating Councils have directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in almost all regions to promote strict wearing of nose masks in their various communities. Regional Security Councils in collaboration with the Police are to strictly enforce the mandatory wearing of nose masks. This decision forms part of government’s effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. What then should we do as Ghanaians? Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Owe nothing to anyone except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law (Rom 13:1-9, NLT). “Religion without science is lame. But science without religion is blind.” With reference to a press release on 9th May, 2020 - Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the following measures were and should be considered as our collective effort to fight against COVID-19 in Ghana: ban on public gathering/social [physical] distancing, use of face mask, hand washing under running water with soap and the use of alcohol based sanitizer. All these measures could be considered as scientific approaches to the fight against COVID-19. Is there any relevance of these to the fideist if there is no scriptural or faith based evidence to him/her? Below are biblical references to support each of these measures put out by the Ghana Medical Association. SCIENCE VS RELIGION (RATIONALISM VS FIDEISM) •	Ban on public gathering/social [physical] distancing (quarantine) This is the first scientific measure of Ghana Medical Association, which can be traced to at least two (2) texts in the Bible: “Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves until his wrath has passed by” (Isaiah 26:20, Good News Bible). “When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and be quick raw flesh in the rising; It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean” (Leviticus 13:9-11, KJV). Social distancing and quarantine are biblical.

•	Use of face mask (covering of the face): The first Bible quotation on face covering is in Genesis 24:65: “For she had said unto the servant, what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.” People who have ever been to the Middle East or attended any wedding, would understand what Rebekah had done here. In Exodus 34:33-35 Moses had been in the presence of the Lord, and his face was shining so bright that it was terrifying the people. He had to use a face covering so that they would not run from him. It is not clear as to how many years Moses had to do this. In Isaiah 6:2, the Bible tells us about a vision of heaven: “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” These angels are covering their faces with wings. However, the New Testament speaks of the mask on their hearts (II Corinthians 3:13-15). •	Hand washing under running water with soap: One of the very important scientific measures on the list of Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is washing of hand under running water. This is what the Bible has to say on it: “Now Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of living [spring] water” – (Genesis 26:19, AMP). The reference in the book of Genesis was just to lay the foundation that spring water was a common thing in Jewish settlements. Leviticus 15:13 (KJV): “And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.” Read also: Exodus 30:17-21; Deuteronomy 21:4-6; Matthew 27:24 and Mark 7:1-9, the issue of hand washing with water is captured in each of them. •	The use of alcohol based sanitizer (fumigation): The last but not least of the scientific measure of Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is the use of hand sanitizer which was then in the form of oil as recorded in Exodus 30:22-31. This oil was not an alcohol but alcohol based. The above text could be put into two main parts: the ingredients used in its preparation and how the oil was to be used. Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Exo. 30:22-31, KJV). It must be noted that Cinnamyl alcohol is a naturally occurring compound that is found within Cinnamon, just as Calamus is used in the preparation of Calamus Alcohol Liquid. The oil mentioned there was not only for spiritual purity but also for physical cleanliness. BIBLICAL EXPOSITION ON CAUSES OF DESEASES AND THEIR REMEDIES The facts below will expose you to the realities of divine principles. Indeed, faith without works is dead and disobedience against God and humanity (Gen. 3) is the main cause of human suffering. ◈ When God warned us not to eat animals like bat in Deuteronomy 14:12-19, we went on killing them to eat because it tastes good. Remember, EBOLA came out as the result of eating bats. ◈ When God told us in Isaiah 66:17 about the terrible consequence (death) of eating mouse (mice), the Chinese said no. Coronavirus was supposedly caused by the practice of eating baby mouse in its raw state in China. ◈ Do you remember how the deadly HIV/AIDS infection first occurred in the 1980’s? The source was human beings degrading themselves to having sexual intercourse or mating with animals (chimpanzees) the primary carriers of the virus. Whereas God warned us against h aving intercourse with animals known as Bestiality in Leviticus 20:15-20. ◈ When God warned against eating of animal fats in Leviticus 3:17, he foresaw that it will lead to health problems such as: kidney and lung failure. Those who have been running to eat fat, should now go back to their Bibles and learn that the commandments of God are for our own good. I know someone could make reference to: 1 Timothy 4:1-4; but he/she should try and read also Acts 15:20-29. ◈ Were you surprised getting to know that it is biblical for you to wash your hands under running water? Going to the Temple every day or speaking in tongues, or performing miracles do not mean you know everything about God or makes you methodical follower of the word of God. Please, read again Deuteronomy 21:4-6. ◈ Were you not surprised again that our God had taught us about quarantine over 3,000 years ago? Read: Genesis 7:2-8 and Leviticus 13:6-7. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself went all out to propagate the gospel of cleanliness: Mark 8:2-3; John 13:10-11. Only clean people will inherit the kingdom of God, Rev. 19:8-14. Don’t over focus on spiritual cleanliness and ignore the other. Remember Proverbs 11:1. Whoever will live a long and healthy life, should go back to the Bible and humble himself/herself to study diligently as stated in 2 Timothy 2:15. “God cannot do by miracle what must be done by obedience; partial obedience is disobedience and delayed obedience is disobedience.” I want to conclude this message of our fight against COVID-19 with a word of advice and caution from Martin Luther’s pastoral advice during the Black Plague (Bubonic plague, 1346 – 1353): “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, He will surely find me, and I have done what He has expected of me and… so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbour needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.” – Martin Luther, Works v. 43, p. 132. Letter “Whether one may flee a Deadly Plague” written to Dr. John Hess. We all need to get on board and help in fighting COVID-19 by praying to God everywhere we find ourselves for the sake of Ghana and the entire world against the pandemic as though it all depends on prayer. And let us also follow all the safety protocols religiously and scientifically as though it all depends on the safety measures as we also work hard at discovering a drug for its cure. Don’t be afraid and don’t stigmatize those who tested positive for the virus around you. Victory shall surely be ours! Writer: Samuel Y. Xenyo. Educationist: Specialist in Religion (Ethics). Email: sammygbeku@yahoo.com