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Measles outbreak traced to megachurch

jimtron

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jimtron
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Mar 9, 2005
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A measles outbreak in Texas traces to a congregation of a megachurch whose leader, Kenneth Copeland, reportedly has warned followers away from vaccines, advocating for faith healing and pushing the debunked notion that vaccines cause autism. One of Copeland’s churches, Eagle Mountain International Church in North Texas, is the epicenter of the outbreak, which now has hit at least 20 people.
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Good article from Emily Willingham in Forbes. And excellent job setting a commenter straight here.
 
Ladewig said:
I am having a hard time determining which post you link points to. Can you be more specific?
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It's the reply to this comment:
Eileen Violet said:
Actually most of the pertussis/whooping cough cases, are in children who have been vaccinated…don’t take my word for it, look it up. Vaccines don’t always work, and often people have a mild case, which goes undiagnosed. You also aren’t guaranteed death for many of these illnesses, death is a small percentage and a worst case scenario, many have the diseases and aren’t even aware, other than feeling ‘a bit under the weather’. If you are worried, and don’t trust your body’s immune system, if you live on crap food, and no sleep, then by all means get vaccinated, but leave those of us who have done the research and made an informed choice alone. ‘Science” and ‘fact’ change every 10 years or so…so don’t take it as your gospel…
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The reply is right beneath it.
 
Odd. A different article I read said that the pastor was encouraging people to get vaccinated. I'll see if I can find it again.
 
This might have been the article I read before. I didn't read the whole thing but if you just read the first couple paragraphs you wouldn't get that it's a vaccine denying church. I see now that they are hosting free vaccine clinics but the message is sort of mixed:
A Texas megachurch linked to at least 21 cases of measles has been trying to contain the outbreak by hosting vaccination clinics, officials said.
. . .
In a sermon posted online, senior pastor Terri Pearsons encouraged those who haven't been vaccinated to do so, adding that the Old Testament is "full of precautionary measures."

"I would encourage you to do that. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. Go do it. Go do it. Go do it. And go in faith," said Pearsons, whose father is televangelist Kenneth Copeland. But she added, if "you've got this covered in your household by faith and it crosses your heart of faith then don't go do it.

"The main thing is stay in faith no matter what you do."
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So she seems to be saying that you can use vaccines if you want to, but if your faith is strong enough then "you've got this covered".

I also see that it's one of those "prosperity gospel" churches. One of the more annoying flavors of Christianity imho:
Pearsons' father is a pioneer of the prosperity gospel, which holds that believers are destined to flourish spiritually, physically and financially — and share the wealth with others. He has built a vast ministry with a worldwide reach. Eagle Mountain International Church is located on the grounds as the Kenneth Copeland Ministries.
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I'm sure that Copeland has prospered financially but I wonder if his average follower is more prosperous than the average person in that area.
 
"I would encourage you to do that. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. Go do it. Go do it. Go do it. And go in faith," said Pearsons, whose father is televangelist Kenneth Copeland. But she added, if "you've got this covered in your household by faith and it crosses your heart of faith then don't go do it.

"The main thing is stay in faith no matter what you do."
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So much like many politicians. If your congregation (or supporters) is 40% for, 40% against, and 20% undecided, you must be 40% for, 40% against, and 20% undecided.

Norm
 
The Forbes article says Copeland urged faith healing and his daughter is now urging parishioners to get vaccinated.
Kenneth Copeland, reportedly has warned followers away from vaccines, advocating for faith healing and pushing the debunked notion that vaccines cause autism....

In the wake of the outbreak, the church’s pastor and Kenneth Copeland’s daughter, Terri Copeland Pearsons, was urging congregants take advantage of a couple of free vaccination clinics the church suddenly has on offer or to self quarantine at home for two weeks if they didn’t want to receive vaccinations.
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Skeptic Ginger said:
The Forbes article says Copeland urged faith healing and his daughter is now urging parishioners to get vaccinated.
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Yeah, now that it threatens their bottom line.

These creatures should be taken away and hanged.
 
Free Vaccine= Bad Attempt at P.R. Damage Control.

And you gotta love the mixed message.

Faith Healers,gotta love them....


'PUT YOUR HAND ON THE RADIO AND YOU WILL BE CURED OF MEASLES,HALLELUJAH!"
 
This just proves that you need to remain vigilant in testing the faith of your parishioners. They obviously didn't believe enough and should've been banned. Really though it's on the parishioners to realize they were dirty heathens and take the vaccine like the rest of us.
 
I don't have the gut dislike and hatred of religion in general that a number of people at JREF have,but Faith Healers I cannot stand. And I don't care whether they are of the Christian Fundy or The New Age variety.
Wonder what Jenny Mc Carthy has to say bout this.....
 
dudalb said:
I don't have the gut dislike and hatred of religion in general that a number of people at JREF have,but Faith Healers I cannot stand. And I don't care whether they are of the Christian Fundy or The New Age variety.
Wonder what Jenny Mc Carthy has to say bout this.....
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On account of where her head is located, probably something like, "Mfff fffmff, mffffff mmmmff!"
 
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