Pack it in and go home

This is a short open letter to my Christian friends who persist in promoting Coronavirus conspiracy theories. Although we do not have all the facts at hand, sober minded analysis consistently shows that the most likely cause of the pandemic is the corruption and incompetence of the Chinese government. I take issue with these theories because in effect, those who promote them are giving one of the world's most oppressive regimes a free pass. 

Let's look at the facts. China is one of the most repressive countries in the world. This has been thoroughly documented by human rights monitors, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, to name but two. Its government is completely unaccountable to its people. On every measure, China has one of the worst human rights records in the Asian region. If a government can do what it wants, in such an environment then it is little wonder that this would eventually backfire. 

Let's not forget its persecution of Christians. Of all people, Christians should be particularly concerned about the plight of China's Christian community. Christians are severely persecuted in China. It is one of the world's worst persecutors of Christians. Let's not also forget the estimated 1 million Muslim Uighurs who have been incarcerated in reeducation camps, or the longsuffering people of Tibet, under Chinese occupation since 1950. 

The point of writing this is to say that promoting Coronavirus conspiracy theories makes Christians look ridiculous to the world at large, but also lacking in compassion for persecuted Christians, and other religious minority groups. In the words of Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, or American actor and comedian, Bob Newhart, "Stop it."

https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/asia-and-the-pacific/china/report-china/

https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/christian-china-persecution-2020-watchlist