One of our Church friends recently posted a sad message for the holidays. Her son, barely in his 30’s and in good health, has refused to come to Christmas unless the entire family is tested for COVID and the numbers are limited. A tech worker and cradle Orthodox, he has remained mostly holed-up in his home since the “pandemic” arrived. This wonderful lady of God has not seen her son for months, and now will miss him over Christmas, unless she is willing to limit her family’s attendance and make everyone prove a negative COVID status. All to make a young man feel secure from a virus that he may never contract, and is almost 100% guaranteed to recover from even if he does.
Sadly, his level of COVID hysteria is not unusual. A study, conducted by Franklin Templeton Investments and Gallup Research, found that Americans vastly overestimate their chances of dying from COVID-19. Even though nearly all U.S. fatalities have been among people older than 55, a large number of Americans are convinced that the risk to younger people is the same as for older ones.
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These misperceptions were deliberately cultivated. Scholars from Dartmouth College and Brown University found that 91 percent of stories by major U.S. media outlets about COVID were negative in tone compared with 54 percent for international media sources. The constant drumbeat of bad news has left many people literally paralyzed with fear. The media-induced hysteria has had far-reaching and surprising effects, even reducing the estimated number of babies born next year by up to 500,000 in what has been labeled the coming “baby bust.” The impact on churches has been catastrophic, with falling attendance and giving across the board in almost every Christian denomination.
Bishop Irenei, Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia – Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe, had this to say about fear:
This world has shown, in these past few months, what really governs it — and it is not wisdom or compassion, or science, or truth. It is fear… Man has grown accustomed to being afraid — of everything. And society considers it second-nature now to live according to this fear: states and governments announce what we are to be afraid of, alter our modes of life based on frightened responses to that fear; and as soon as one momentary fear ceases to grip us entirely, another is provided to replace it… And it is grounded, ultimately, in the one fear that a society without God cannot overcome: the fear of death.
It’s not just fear of death that has people hiding at home, it is also the fear of not conforming to and thus being judged by this world, perhaps literally in a court of law for COVID mandate violations. As one college student told us recently, “Wear the mask and keep your opinions to yourself. Don’t draw attention, or you will labeled a bad person who doesn’t care about others. You can end up on probation or being expelled for what you say or do in front of the wrong person.” There is enormous societal pressure to act afraid even if you aren’t – accept the restrictions, stay home, don’t live your life, and don’t complain or way worse things than just catching a virus could happen to you.
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The people who are afraid won’t be re-assured by data, charts, videos, and epistles. They are simply too far gone for logic or reason. God bless Bishop Irenei, but even his articulate words are unlikely to strengthen the resolve of even one COVID-hysterical believer. Simultaneously, those who are disappointed in the bishops are unlikely to be much encouraged by mere words. The fearful and the weary alike need bold, pastoral action of exactly the kind one would expect from an Apostle or great saint of the Church. We need to see, hear, and experience a man of God joyfully confronting fear, death, and the hostile judgment of the world. The energizing effect on the faithful will be more than we can even imagine. And not just the Orthodox will notice. Expect that such a “Faith over Fear” tour of multiple parishes will attract the admiration of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and even non-believers who are simply fed-up with the current climate of terror.
Faith Over Fear - Apostolic Boldness in the Age of COVID - Orthodox Reflections
Sadly, his level of COVID hysteria is not unusual. A study, conducted by Franklin Templeton Investments and Gallup Research, found that Americans vastly overestimate their chances of dying from COVID-19. Even though nearly all U.S. fatalities have been among people older than 55, a large number of Americans are convinced that the risk to younger people is the same as for older ones.
.....
These misperceptions were deliberately cultivated. Scholars from Dartmouth College and Brown University found that 91 percent of stories by major U.S. media outlets about COVID were negative in tone compared with 54 percent for international media sources. The constant drumbeat of bad news has left many people literally paralyzed with fear. The media-induced hysteria has had far-reaching and surprising effects, even reducing the estimated number of babies born next year by up to 500,000 in what has been labeled the coming “baby bust.” The impact on churches has been catastrophic, with falling attendance and giving across the board in almost every Christian denomination.
Bishop Irenei, Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia – Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe, had this to say about fear:
This world has shown, in these past few months, what really governs it — and it is not wisdom or compassion, or science, or truth. It is fear… Man has grown accustomed to being afraid — of everything. And society considers it second-nature now to live according to this fear: states and governments announce what we are to be afraid of, alter our modes of life based on frightened responses to that fear; and as soon as one momentary fear ceases to grip us entirely, another is provided to replace it… And it is grounded, ultimately, in the one fear that a society without God cannot overcome: the fear of death.
It’s not just fear of death that has people hiding at home, it is also the fear of not conforming to and thus being judged by this world, perhaps literally in a court of law for COVID mandate violations. As one college student told us recently, “Wear the mask and keep your opinions to yourself. Don’t draw attention, or you will labeled a bad person who doesn’t care about others. You can end up on probation or being expelled for what you say or do in front of the wrong person.” There is enormous societal pressure to act afraid even if you aren’t – accept the restrictions, stay home, don’t live your life, and don’t complain or way worse things than just catching a virus could happen to you.
------
The people who are afraid won’t be re-assured by data, charts, videos, and epistles. They are simply too far gone for logic or reason. God bless Bishop Irenei, but even his articulate words are unlikely to strengthen the resolve of even one COVID-hysterical believer. Simultaneously, those who are disappointed in the bishops are unlikely to be much encouraged by mere words. The fearful and the weary alike need bold, pastoral action of exactly the kind one would expect from an Apostle or great saint of the Church. We need to see, hear, and experience a man of God joyfully confronting fear, death, and the hostile judgment of the world. The energizing effect on the faithful will be more than we can even imagine. And not just the Orthodox will notice. Expect that such a “Faith over Fear” tour of multiple parishes will attract the admiration of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and even non-believers who are simply fed-up with the current climate of terror.
Faith Over Fear - Apostolic Boldness in the Age of COVID - Orthodox Reflections
