Theological Journal - March 26: Plague and Quarantine


“If the people in a city were to show themselves bold in their faith when a neighbor’s need so demands, and cautious when no emergency exists, and if everyone would help ward off contagion as best he can, then the death toll would indeed be moderate. But if some are too panicky and desert their neighbors in their plight, and if some are so foolish as not to take precautions but aggravate the contagion, then the devil has a heyday and many will die.”

-Martin Luther’s response to a pastor during the 1527 plague in Wittenberg.

From fine piece on this issue in Commonweal, “To Quarantine is Christian” by Jared Lucky (https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/act-service?utm_content=buffer8ab15&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR3PfnlqIrC6kH3AkPsKvBaC1RXp19r7X2Xn5QdasdxOygldt60RhqdQZZM). Well  worth the read!

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