Wow! How have I only just discovered this group, this forum, and this statement? So today, imagine my trepidation as I hit publish on what I feared would be a very controversial article that would gain lots of condemnation from American Christians on Covid truth telling. I thought I might even have to stand alone! As a Christian medical researcher with something of a platform online I felt I had to say something. I had no idea that I could stand with a group of fellow scientists who were also people of faith and yet believed in science.
Imagine then my encouragement when I discovered your statement! I have no hesitation whatsoever in signing. And in promoting it to my readers.
The thing that has provoked me perhaps the most of all the many conspiracy theories about COVID19 being spouted on my Facebook feed by American Christians has been the lack of respect for evidence based medicine and the Randomised Controlled Trial. Having helped to run many of them for the pharmaceutical industry as a medical doctor working in global study teams, I am kind of committed to the veracity of what they show!
So because of that and many other silly things being said I wrote this article.
"Christians must stop lying about Covid19"
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2020/08/christians-must-stop-lying-about-covid19/
It includes links to a whole series of fact based, hope filled articles about the COVID epidemic I have written from my scientific background, and now I have embedded two of your YouTube videos and a link to the statement encouraging people to sign it.
I am very personally involved in this Coronavirus epidemic not just as a medical doctor who has some expertise in clinical research but as an extremely clinically vulnerable patient due to my blood cancer. So I have plenty of time as I cannot work to think and even some time to write. And I hope therefore to become an active participant in this forum. When it comes to the scientific method I think there are few things more beautiful than clinical trials. And I share the bewilderment of the Oxford scientists who donāt understand why for example over 10,000 does of convalescent plasma have been used in the USA without a proper clinical trial. ( see this Guardian interview )
There is much for us to do as Christians to advocate to society and the church the need to SEEK AFTER TRUTH. That is surely the goal of the Christian and the Scientist alike, or it should be! Some communication about the science has not been clear so I do think it behoves us to create clear scientific communication that will appeal to Christian audiences, but also actually to try and influence the broader communication in the media which lets be honest has been very poor. Lets try and get some good Christian experts out there explaining clearly why TRUTH matters !