People are angry over potentially losing their right to opt out of the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious exemption, but is their religion actually against the vaccine?
Evangelical Protestants:
White evangelical Protestants are one of the only groups that didn’t have the majority agree with the vaccine.
A Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) poll asked the group whether they agreed that people should get the vaccine because:
“it helps protect everyone” and
“is a way to live out the religious principle of loving my neighbors.”
Out of those who agreed, only 43% of white evangelical Protestants agreed. 56% of Black Protestants and 61% of Hispanic Protestants agreed in comparison.
Eternal life and God controlling everything are the reasons why they don’t feel the vaccine is necessary.
Catholicism:
The Catholic Church said the vaccine is acceptable, even though concerns were expressed over the use of cell lines from aborted fetuses in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The vaccine rate increased greatly following the “okay” to get it.
Other Christian religions:
Most denominations don’t have a theological opposition to vaccines, therefore can get them. These include Eastern Orthodox, Amish, Anglican, Baptist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mennonites, Quakers and Pentecostal Christians.
Some do have a theological opposition, and those include the Dutch Reformed Church and Church of Christ, Scientist.
These religions aren’t outright against vaccines, but they allow their church members to decide for themselves.
Islam:
Islam encourages their members to get vaccinated, but due to immigration status, some people aren’t getting it out of fear of deportation.
Judaism:
Jewish people are in support of the vaccine because one of the most important parts of their religion is preserving life and protecting their own health.
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