Re: Christianity and vaccinations?

Unfortunately, I wish there were some credible evangelical/scientific
resources for addressing the concern over vaccines. The several Christian
people I know who refuse vaccinations for their children do so because of
a mixture of theological and alternative medicine-based reasons.

Theologically, it often revolves around the Old Testament concern
regarding the sanctity of human blood. It is claimed that the process of
vaccination violates Scripture by polluting blood. (Perhaps this explains
the Jehovah Witnesses' aversion to blood transfusion??).

From alternative medicine, there is the concern that vaccination has led
to things like damaging mercury poisoning.

A quick Google search revealed some rather provocative "biblical/medical"
analysis (though it reads like some idea crafted by a script writer for
the X-Files TV show!):

http://www.tetrahedron.org/articles/vaccine_awareness/Vaccination_UnGodly_Practice.html

There is just enough "science" here along with biblical exegesis to make
it sound plausible. But I'm afraid that for some people it is just enough
to "immunize" you against further study and a fully balanced and reasoned
Christian approach (pardon the pun ;-)

I did find a good source to address the medical concerns here:

http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/immu/thimerosal.html

But once again, I don't find much in terms of evangelical/scientific
resources on the Internet that can be offered to folks who are
reconsidering vaccinations. This reference is an exception, but it only
briefly addresses the mercury poisoning claim -- and there is no
discussion of Scripture:

http://www.creationcare.org/resources/mercury/mercury.php

Sounds like a great topic for one our ASA medical members to address in
the Perspectives journal...

Blessing in Him,

Clarke Morledge
College of William and Mary
Information Technology - Network Engineering
Williamsburg, Virginia

On Sun, 5 Mar 2006, Freeman, Louise Margaret wrote:

> There is a young couple who attended our church a number of years ago who
> are expecting their first child and are considering not vaccinating their
> children. I don't know if their concerns are medical, theological or both,
> but a number of us are concerned, particularly since they intend to go
> overseas as missionaries in a few years (they met as missionaries in the
> mideast).
>
> Does anyone have a webscite or other resource that addresses vaccination
> concerns in a responsible manner, from both a scientific and Christian
> viewpoint?
Received on Sun, 5 Mar 2006 18:02:53 -0500 (EST)