Public health and Christian theism in Africa: An approach to evil and religious belief in the afterlife
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Date
2022-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
FORUM FOR MEDICAL ETHICS SOCIETY
Abstract
Religious beliefs may significantly impact the effectiveness of health policies. In this article, I analyse how Christian theistic beliefs about evil and suffering, in connection with belief in the afterlife, have unreasonable ethical implications in the context of African epistemologies. Further, I contend that such Christian theistic beliefs have a negative impact on health policies, especially during the current pandemic. They prescribe one-size-fits-all approaches, which neglect contextual issues in addressing the pandemic. They also encourage passivity and neglect in the face of suffering. I then offer an alternative inspired by Afro-communitarianism, which I argue is convincing. Given that the theistic view is morally indefensible, I contend that it cannot be a good explanation of the problem of evil.
Description
Keywords
public health, Covid 19, religious beliefs and health, African religions, theism, the problem of evil, belief in the afterlife
Citation
Cordeiro-Rodrigues L. Public health and Christian theism in Africa: An approach to evil and religious belief in the afterlife. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 2022 Dec; 7(4): 315-320