Religious Reasons for Vaccine Refusal

While there are thousands of different religions in the world,  five of the oldest religions are generally described as the main world religions. These religions are Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. However, Religious Freedom and our U. S. Constitution represents ALL religions (even those that many have never heard of). 

Each religion has their own reasons for refusing vaccination. 

The Bible teaches us that ALL human life is sacred. The use of human aborted fetuses in the testing and manufacturing of vaccines goes directly against this principal. Additionally, under the rule of God, one must not desecrate the holiest of temples, the human body. 

Cutting or puncturing the flesh was considered a pagan act to appease the gods by making a blood offering: 

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:28 

The body is the temple of God: 

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? And whoever defiles the temple of God, God will destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and that temple is you," 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Doctors don’t always have the answer: 

“And who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.” Mark 5:26

God affirms the value of human life: 

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16

If we are to interpret “the land” as both physical and symbolic of the of the human body in which we live: 

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel," Numbers 35:33-34

Is the Covid-19 shot the mark of the Beast which will determine who can buy or sell? 

“Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” Revelation 13:16-18

Many vaccines contain human aborted fetal DNA. They are also tested on aborted fetuses. 

“You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13

The following is written by Rabbi Michael Barclay:

Many Jewish leaders understand Jewish law to be in opposition to the concept of mandatory vaccinations based on accepted interpretations of Torah, Talmud, and commentators; including Maimonides and sukkanat nefashot (danger to life), the Shulchan Arukh, Deut. 4:9-15, and potential violation of the Noahide laws of Gen. Chapter 9, among other references. While we are not against an individual choosing vaccination, the concept of mandatory vaccinations and “vaccination passports” is all too similar to the branding of the Yellow Star on Jews in Nazi Germany and going back to the Caliphates of the 8th century.

Moreover, the concept of “free will” is primary in Jewish theology, taking its roots in Deut. 30:19-20 (where God specifically gives mankind the “choice” of what to do, good or bad; emphasizing the importance of each human making their own choices). Maimonides, in his codification of Jewish law and belief, argues strongly for the primacy of individual responsibility (Laws of Teshuvah 5:2); and it is the responsibility of every individual to make a personal decision to vaccinate or not. 

Additionally, there are numerous kabbalistic (Jewish mystical) texts that teach of the importance of free will, and that it is this quality of free will that makes mankind even “greater than the angels”, who do not have the temptations that come with free will. “Man is greater than the angels in that he was given inclinations, and obliged to contend with vital questions and his bodily needs, even with the seductions of the evil inclination, while the angels' existence is static.” (Avodat ha’Kodesh III,5. 1531)

Judaism is not theologically monolithic, and each community has its own interpretation and understanding of halacha(Jewish law) and minhagim (customs). It is the position of many Jewish leaders that for a variety of reasons, especially the imperative of free will, mandatory vaccinations are antithetical to Jewish law. As such, they cannot be enforced upon any community member that sides with this halachic understanding subject to our rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and 42 U.S. Code §2000a – Prohibition against discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation.

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The following view is from Rabbi Kotler of Beth Medrash Govoha:

Additionally, the Torah explicitly commands Jews to guard their lives exceedingly, and as such, concerns to ensure safety are part and parcel of religious law, NOT independent of religious law. The Torah states, “And you shall guard your life exceedingly,” and, “Just take care of yourself and guard your life exceedingly.” According to the general consensus of the classic formulators of Jewish law (halachah), these verses command one to guard their health and their life. While some Jews view vaccines as one way to guard their life, many other Jews, view “guarding their life exceedingly” as avoiding vaccines due to potential risks of injury and/or death (stated on both the CDC website and package inserts). 

In 2018 a fatwa was issued by the Indonesia Ullema Council Fatwa Commission concerning the use of vaccines that utilize the elements of pigs and their derivatives as unclean. This fatwa clearly states that the use of any vaccine which contains ingredients derived from pig/porcine is considered haram(unclean and forbidden in the Muslim faith). Additionally, Raza Academy, a body of Indian Sufi Muslims that promotes Islamic philosophies via publications and research, have recently written to the World Health Organization expressing their concerns over the use of ingredients derived from pigs. Today, many of our current vaccines contain gelatin made from pig, used as a stabilizer, thus making them haram, and a deep concern to those of Muslim faith who view this common ingredient as forbidden. 

The first of the Ten Buddhist Precepts instructs “not taking life.” The manufacturing of vaccines involves the killing of animals and the use of aborted fetuses for testing and ingredient purposes, which is in direct violation of Buddhist principals, thus causing many Buddhists to forgo vaccination. 

Hindu scripture teaches ahimsa, meaning do no harm to oneself, or others, including animals. Vaccines derived from animals and human aborted fetuses are in direct violation of the Hindu principal ahimsa. Additionally, All India Hindu Mahasabha President Swami Chakrapani has written to President Ram Nath Kovind regarding concerns of ingredients derived from cows in vaccines. Chakrapani stated in his letter that cow's blood or any such substance used in vaccines, "hurts the spirit of Hindu Sanatan Dharma.” Being that bovine (cow) serum is a common ingredient in many vaccines, Hindu’s are often reluctant to inoculate their children or themselves.