This article is self contradictory, The author states: "Having said that, I don’t understand why we ever abandoned what is sacred for the sake of obeying ‘the science’. " We, the human race, have never abandoned the sacred. We use science as one vehicle to encourage acts that could be described as sacred.

What is sacred? It is caring for our fellow man. As many deep thinkers,and philosophers (not always the same) have said, as is encapsulated in the Buddhist dictum: "our prime purpose in life is to help others. And above all, not to harm them."

And that is why we have lockdowns, are obliged to wear masks, limit the number of people at church services- to help others - to save lives

Great article - thank you!

Surely no one could object to the article's title, thinking that there is more than one God or that the only God is the Minister of Health...

Now as far as COVID is concerned, those who believe in the Bible have a problem, because the Bible does not command to necessarily congregate (other than in the Jerusalem Temple) for prayer, worship and to sing songs of praise: you could well do so privately or along with your household at home. There is also Leviticus 18:5, poorly translated:

KJV: "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord."

NIV: "Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord."

The original Hebrew text, however, says: "Thou shalt keep my laws and those of my instructions that are meant for humans to do, and live in them, I am the Lord."

In other words, this chapter, being a long list of instructions, does not suddenly break out of order in verse 5 (and only there) in order to provide explanations, then casually returns to the list: "Live in them" is just one more commandment!

Jewish law takes this verse to mean that one is commanded by God to NOT keep the Biblical laws (with very few exceptions) if that means a loss of life (or even limb) - that maintaining life is itself an important commandment, superior than almost all the rest of them.

Yes, worshiping other gods (including science) is one of those few exceptions where one ought to die rather than break the Law, but staying at home and missing public prayers, worship and songs of praise is NOT against God's word, but is rather in accordance with God's commandment.

Using science as idol is disgusting, I fully agree, but using the findings of science, itself a gift of the divine, in the service of the divine, is itself a form of worship and sacrifice, indeed a big sacrifice.