Vaccinations: Religious Opposition And Their Beliefs

While there are a few religions that have doctrinal objections to vaccination, such as the Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science), and the Dutch Reformed Church, there are very few religions that prohibit it. In fact, many religions see getting vaccinated as a moral imperative to protect and preserve life. However, some people have tried to use religious exemptions to avoid getting vaccinated, and there is evidence that vaccine hesitancy does differ among religious groups. For example, in September 2021, almost a third of American Protestants said they were unvaccinated.

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The Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Scientists) objects to vaccination

While few religions have doctrinal objections to vaccination, some religious groups have expressed concerns about specific vaccines. One such group is The Church of Christ, Scientist, commonly known as Christian Scientists, which objects to vaccination and, more broadly, to modern medicine.

Christian Science is founded on the belief that disease is a fundamentally spiritual phenomenon, and thus prayer is the only effective means of combating it. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, advised:

> "Rather than quarrel over vaccination, I recommend, if the law demand that an individual submit to this process, that he obey the law, and then appeal to the Gospel to save him from bad physical results."

However, it is important to note that there is variation within the group. Some Christian Scientists utilize medicine as a supplement to prayer, similar to how most Christians would approach it.

Other religious groups that have traditionally opposed vaccination include the Dutch Reformed Church, which cautions against vaccines because they are believed to interfere with humans' relationship with God, making them feel less dependent. In addition, some Catholics have objected to certain vaccines derived from fetal cells, though Catholic officials have stated that being vaccinated can be "an act of charity that serves the common good," and nearly 80% of Catholics have been vaccinated.

The Dutch Reformed Church is also opposed to vaccination

While there are no sacred texts that explicitly forbid vaccines, some religions have doctrinal objections to vaccination. The Dutch Reformed Church, for example, has traditionally opposed vaccination, believing that it interferes with "divine providence" or God's will.

The Dutch Reformed Church was founded in 1571 during the Protestant Reformation in the Calvinist tradition. It was theologically shaped by John Calvin and other major Reformed theologians. The church enjoyed the status of "public" or "privileged" before the demise of the Dutch Republic in 1795. While it was never formally adopted as the state religion, every public official was required to be a member of the church. This granted the church close relations with the Dutch government.

The Dutch Reformed Church was influenced by various theological developments and controversies, including Arminianism, the Nadere Reformatie, and several splits in the 19th century that diversified Dutch Calvinism. The church functioned until 2004 when it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN).

The Dutch Reformed Church's opposition to vaccination stems from its theological beliefs and interpretations of doctrinal documents. This position is not universally accepted within the church, as some members may choose to get vaccinated, especially in the context of COVID-19, where vaccine mandates have been implemented.

It is important to note that the Dutch Reformed Church's stance on vaccination is an exception among religious groups, as many other religions do not have formal objections to vaccination. In fact, some religions, like Jainism, allow for vaccination to protect lives, even though it involves killing microorganisms. Additionally, religious leaders of large groups, such as Pope Francis, have publicly supported vaccination.

Some Catholic officials objected to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine

Some religious groups have expressed concerns or objections to certain vaccines, and one notable example is the objection raised by some Catholic officials regarding the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The objection arose due to the vaccine's connection with aborted fetal cell lines in the development and production process. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, like several other COVID-19 vaccines, was developed and tested using fetal cell lines derived from abortions performed decades ago. This connection to abortion sparked ethical concerns among some members of the Catholic Church, which firmly opposes abortion.

In March 2021, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement addressing this issue. While acknowledging the "grave problem of abortion-derived vaccines," the Congregation also emphasized the "duty to protect one's health and that of others." It stated that "when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not available," it is morally acceptable to receive vaccines that used cell lines from aborted fetuses, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Despite this guidance from the Vatican, some Catholic officials and organizations maintained their objections. They argued that receiving a vaccine with any connection to abortion is a form of cooperation with evil and cannot be justified. These objectors suggested that individuals should instead opt for ethically uncontroversial vaccines or demand the development of vaccines with no link to abortion.

The situation surrounding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine highlighted the complex interplay between religious beliefs and public health considerations. While some Catholic officials objected on moral grounds, other Catholic authorities, such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, encouraged vaccination, emphasizing the potential benefit of saving lives and reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This diversity of opinions within the Catholic Church reflects the nuanced ethical debates that emerge when scientific advancements intersect with deeply held religious values.

Some Mennonites in Texas refused the Covid-19 vaccine

While the Mennonite Church as an institution is not opposed to vaccines, some Mennonites in Texas have refused the Covid-19 vaccine. This has brought the community under scrutiny, as they have been blamed for the recent measles outbreak in the state. Measles was thought to have been eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but a rise in vaccine skepticism, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, has left a growing number of children vulnerable to the disease.

Mennonites are a diverse group of Christian denominations with roots in the Protestant Reformation. They believe in pacifism, non-violence, and non-resistance. The specific group of Mennonites in question settled in Gaines County, Texas, in part because private schools in the area are not heavily regulated. Many Mennonite families do not send their children to public schools, and Texas, like most U.S. states, allows exemptions from vaccination for religious or personal beliefs.

The Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson, Lara Anton, stated that the decision to vaccinate is left up to individual Mennonites, and that the church is not the reason for vaccine hesitancy. Anton also noted that the Mennonite community in the region generally does not seek regular healthcare. During the pandemic, the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches released a statement acknowledging that while they cannot support individual claims of religious exemption, members may have personal convictions against the vaccine.

The pastor at Seminole's Mennonite Evangelical Church in Gaines County, Jake Fehr, said there was a "misconception" that Mennonites were not vaccinated. While he acknowledged that he was one of many Mennonites in the county who refused the Covid-19 vaccine, he denied that the church taught against vaccinations or encouraged disobedience to the government.

The recent measles outbreak in Texas has highlighted the issue of vaccine hesitancy and the role of religious beliefs in vaccine refusal. While some individuals seek religious exemptions for vaccines, the majority of mainstream religions do not have doctrinal objections to vaccination. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a wave of distrust in public health and government requirements, contributing to vaccine skepticism.

There is no sustained teaching against vaccination in any major faith community

While some people may refuse to get vaccinated on religious grounds, there is no sustained teaching against vaccination in any major faith community. According to researcher John D. Grabenstein of Merck Vaccines, there are no major faith communities with sustained teachings against vaccination. He wrote in the scientific journal 'Vaccine' in April 2013 that "multiple religious doctrines or imperatives...call for the preservation of life, caring for others, and duty to community (e.g. parent to child, neighbours to each other)".

Indeed, many religious leaders and organisations have not spoken out against getting vaccinated, and some have actively encouraged it. For example, in March 2021, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that "being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good". This statement led to a significant increase in vaccine uptake among Catholics, with nearly 80% getting vaccinated.

Furthermore, while some religious groups have been associated with anti-vaccination sentiment, such as the Church of Christ, Scientist (also known as Christian Science), these groups do not have a formal policy against immunisation. For instance, the founder of the Christian Science Church, Mary Baker Eddy, stated in 1901 that members should comply with vaccination mandates. Similarly, the Mennonite movement, which has been linked to the Texas measles outbreak, does not have a formal anti-vaccination position. Jake Fehr, the pastor at Seminole's Mennonite Evangelical Church in Gaines County, clarified that "there has been a misconception that Mennonites aren't vaccinated...We have not been out there teaching against vaccinations or for people not to obey the government".

It is worth noting that some individuals within religious groups may still have personal objections to vaccination based on their interpretation of their faith. For instance, some Muslims have declined vaccines due to the presence of non-halal ingredients, and others have expressed concerns about disturbing divine intervention. However, these objections are typically not based on official religious teachings or doctrines.

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