‘God is angry with Liberia,’ local religious leaders say, blaming Ebola on ‘homosexualism’

[cbayer]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/06/god-is-angry-with-liberia-ebola-is-a-plague/

By Terrence McCoy August 6

WARNING: One of the images at link may be disturbing because of its graphic nature.

Amid the reports emerging out of Liberia, it’s difficult to discern what is true and what isn’t. But the fear they carry is undeniable: Fear of the disease, fear of dead bodies, fear that God himself has sent down a terrible plague to blight the people of Liberia for their transgressions.

There are local reports that “armed men” are allegedly trying to poison wells “to kill in the name of Ebola.” There are reports that the government is dumping bodies by the truckload at a mass grave on the west bank of a river and nearby residents fret over water contamination. And there are Reuters reports of bodies lying in the streets of Liberia’s capital Monrovia for days.


In this 2014 photo provided by the Samaritan's Purse aid organization, Dr. Kent Brantly, left, treats an Ebola patient at the Samaritan's Purse Ebola Case Management Center in Monrovia, Liberia. On Saturday, July 26, 2014, the North Carolina-based aid organization said Brantly tested positive for the disease and was being treated at a hospital in Monrovia. (AP Photo/Samaritan's Purse)

The Ebola pandemic — which has killed 887 in West Africa including 255 in Liberia — has terrified people so much that some local leaders discern divine meaning in it. According to Front Page Africa and the Daily Observer, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf called on Tuesday for all residents to fast for three days and pray for forgiveness.

“Relying on His divine guidance for our survival as a nation,” she announced, “I call on all Liberians to observe three days of national fast and prayer to seek God’s face to have mercy on us and forgive our sins and heal our land, Liberia, as we continue to fight against the deadly Ebola virus.”

more at link

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Why is it that these religious leaders seem to blame

LGBT folks for bringing gawd's wrath down upon us? Why not blame murderers, or people who start unnecessary wars, or those who hurt children or abuse animals?

Disease, natural disasters, terrorists attacks? All the fault of teh gays.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Because they read their bibles.

And apparently, believe it.

[cbayer]

3. I wonder if the AIDS epidemic in africa played a role.

I think most aids transmission in africa is heterosexual, but it might have been convenient for them to focus on homosexual transmission.

Easy targets, too. They have often been scapegoated by both religious and non-religious causes.

[brooklynite]

4. Looks like the prayers didn't work...maybe the Holy Water will?

Liberia: TB Joshua Sends 'Holy Water'

Millionaire Nigerian preacher and healer TB Joshua has reportedly dispatched over 4,000 bottles of his 'holy water' to Sierra Leone as part of an aid package in the fight against the deadly ebola virus.

A Nigerian daily reported Saturday that 4,000 bottles of 'holy water' were taken to Sierra Leone on a chatter flight cost US$50,000.

TB Joshua disclosed minutes before ministering to foreign visitors on his phone-based 'Prayer Line' service that he had already send the 'holy water' to Sierra Leone as promised.

Last week, the renowned Nigerian preacher said he would send 'holy water' to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the three West African nations that have been hard hit by the ebola virus.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201408190070.html

[cbayer]

5. Unlikely, but the CDC might.

I hope so.