| Popis: |
This article analyses the religious impact of a number of past pandemics. After providing a brief survey of major epidemics and pandemics in history—from the fifth century BC Plague of Athens to the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020—the religious impact of a few of these health disasters is examined: The Black Death of the fourteenth century, the Influenza of 1918-1920, the more recent HIV/AIDS pandemic and the current Corona (Covid-19) pandemic. Special attention is given to the Seventh-day Adventist response to the last three of these pandemics. The available data indicate that, perhaps contrary to expectations, the eschatological aspect of these pandemics, as “pestilences” that were signs of Christ’s imminent coming, was not the dominant element in the Adventist response. Looking at some of the conspiracy theories that accompany the Covid-19 crisis, it is found that at least some Adventists are also susceptible to such theories. |
