How Faith Failed Us: Examining the Role of Religion in the Global COVID-19 Crisis

Book Shark: Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith: How Religion Ruined Our Global Pandemic by Noah Lugeons and Andrew Torrez

“Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith” presents the compelling case that the problems associated with the 2019/2020 pandemic were made considerably worse by religious influence. Host and producer of The Scathing Atheist Noah Lugeons examines how religion made dealing with the COVID-19 significantly worse. This 256-page book includes seven chapters broken out by the following three parts: 1. Precovid, 2. Covid, and Post Covid.

Positives:
1. A well-written, well-reasoned and succinct book.
2. An interesting topic, the negative impact of religion in handling the pandemic.
3. Easy book to follow and fun to read. Lugeons tackle the most interesting aspects of the pandemic and how religion adversely impacted dealing with it. He also does so with clarity.
4. Establishes clearly what the main purpose of the book. “In this book, I will present extensive evidence that the problems associated with the 2019/2020 pandemic were made considerably worse by religious institutions, religious leaders, and religious thinking.”
5. Explains how religion hampers science....

United States on May 14, 2022

Ian Harrison: When looking at religious privilege it’s easy to point out every petty point. This book intentionally avoids doing this and stays on topic.
Looking at the breakdown of the application of the law (as related to religion) to the breakdown and undermining of the education system, Noah shows a clear correlation and in many instances causation between religious privilege and the global pandemics unfettered spread through out many nations of the world.
Definitely my best read of the year!

United Kingdom on Nov 14, 2020

Shane Smith: Let me tell you what you need to know about this book. First of all I have the kindle edition, so slightly cheaper than the physical book. Just FYI. But what you need to know is that the cost of that kindle version? Worth it. Worth it early.

The preface to this book, and I want to make sure you are following along here, the preface is worth the cost. I am not talking about the chapters, or even the introduction. I will get there. The preface is worth the cost of admission alone. Andrew Torrez absolutely nails the setup for this book, and he documents it with citations galore. And he doesn't even get to the pandemic. Just his legal setup for how we got into this mess with religion in America is an absolute must read.

And the chapters are better. And just as well cited. And just as in depth.

I am only halfway through, and each and every chapter so far has been worth the full price of the book.

...but again, that is cheaper kindle edition. It would take at least two chapters to equal the cost of the paperback. So, ya know, buyer beware (he said with extreme sarcasm dripping from his voice) and all that. You do your own cost benefit analysis. But trust me,...

United States on Nov 09, 2020

Jonathan Linin: So why was the USA so badly hit by the pandemic. Noah Lugeons tells us about the bullying of many of the churches, their reluctance to accept the science of the pandemic, and their reluctance to lock down in case it hurt their finances and their ability to coerce their followers. The mega ministries see themselves as above the law, above the needs of society.

United Kingdom on Nov 03, 2020

Kindle Customer: Those of us who listen to "The Scathing Atheist" won't find much new information; it's the story we all got to see play out live over the last 8 months. Still well worth the read to re-live the horror you felt every week when the show came out.

The true beneficiaries of this book are the people for who this is new. The people wondering why churches are continuing to meet in large numbers, why large segments of the US don't seem to be taking the minimal precautions that would save lives. Well, fellow compassionate human, here is part of your answer. Bring a stress ball and a support network.

Canada on Oct 24, 2020

tronvillaintronvillain: What began as just another one of the hundreds of insightful and humourous "diatribes" that open Noah's longest running podcast has been expanded into a detailed and insightful examination of how current and past American religiosity has impacted the pandemic response, as well as politics, law, news, and even science. Andrew Torrez's preface is its own fascinating examination of the systematic attempts of fundamentalist to tear down legal safeguards and promote religious privilege using the figleaf of "religious freedom." I have the physical version as well as the Kindle version, and expect to reread the book many times—I recommend it heartily.

Canada on Oct 24, 2020

Ozymandias: Having listened to most of Noah and Andrew's work for a couple of years, I had extraordinary expectations for any work of fact that they could put out.

Those expectations were not just exceeded, but put to shame.

In less than 250 pages, the Puzzle In A Thunderstorm heavyweights broke down one of the most troubling trends in today's tumultuous society, (religion's terribly negative impact on our nation's handling of the pandemic) into a well-sourced and easy to digest timeline of where (and in exhaustive detail) how it went wrong. This book is detailed enough for your inner pedant, and still simple enough for Uncles Frank and Clarence.

Andrew, a Harvard lawyer, is far and away the best communicator of law to lay people I have ever had the privilege to listen to. His preface on the rise of religious "freedom" is a must-read for anyone interested in Constitutional Law, the rise of the religious-right, jurisprudence, and (though he might argue this) Constitutional Origionalism. I am not as good a wordsmith as either he or Noah, and can therefore not articulate my praise with the eloquence he so deserves.

If I cannot find superlative enough words to give...

United States on Oct 21, 2020

Bryllig: I cannot recommend this book more highly.

It's a well researched and well-written snapshot in time.

On the one hand, it's a searing indictment of how those with religious convictions who are in a position of influence have, with bare-faced hypocrisy, twisted the truth and gladly harmed their own communities to pursue their own ends. A divisive bunch who have used the Coronavirus outbreak to tear at American society.

On the other hand, it's also very funny.

Noah has an engaging style and acerbic wit. He is a writer that is growing in confidence and I look forward to reading more of his work.

United Kingdom on Oct 15, 2020