Worship Not Necessary Indoors

I was dismayed to learn about the letter that the supervisors have written to the governor requesting a waiver for indoor religious worship and making a comparison with shopping in stores.

It seems to me that shopping for food, vital for survival, is not the same as worshipping in a communal setting. At a religious venue the people are stationary, they stay together for longer, they chant or sing simultaneously, they all arrive and depart at the same time and are likely to exchange physical touches.

Adherence to a faith is a personal matter, and the lack of the customary place to practice one’s faith is no deterrent to being a believer and following the obligation for prayer. One can pray alone or read religious texts absolutely anywhere. Furthermore, one can easily “attend” virtual worship services on the computer or TV, which serves the same purpose as going to a building with other people. As for outdoor meetings, having observed the clustering of congregants outside at a nearby church, I am not convinced that all protocols will be conscientiously observed in that setting.