A Virocentric Perspective on Evil

The coronavirus pandemic has stirred interest in viruses. This has been accompanied by a proliferation of popular works trying to explain how viruses fit into the Christian worldview. In an anthropocentric perspective, viruses are easily regarded as malicious entities. This article, however, shows t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zygon
Main Author: Schilling, Mirjam (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [2021]
In: Zygon
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Virus / Pandemic / Natural catastrophe / Evil / Christian ethics
RelBib Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
CF Christianity and Science
NCH Medical ethics
NCJ Ethics of science
ZA Social sciences
Further subjects:B Virus
B Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2
B Covid-19
B HIV
B Evil
B Influenza A
B Pandemic
B Sin
B Ebola
B the only way argument
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Description
Summary:The coronavirus pandemic has stirred interest in viruses. This has been accompanied by a proliferation of popular works trying to explain how viruses fit into the Christian worldview. In an anthropocentric perspective, viruses are easily regarded as malicious entities. This article, however, shows that a proper understanding of the biology of viruses actually adds another level of complexity to our perception of good and evil. Interestingly, this additional layer of complexity might help us solve some of the most urgent difficulties in the discussion about good and evil, if we recognize the subjective nature of what we call natural evil. We need to be more nuanced not merely in our theological discussion about good and evil, but also in the way we talk about viruses.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/zygo.12669