What's Up, Doc?

Apparently, Yet Again, the End is Not Nigh

Catastrophism is that cultural malady which sees dire threats ushering in the end of civilisation at every hand. The minatory culprits may be aliens from outer space, cosmic rays, global warming, over population, plastics, swine flu, or whatever.

Yes, swine flu has provided us with the latest manifestation of catastrophism controlling the airwaves and print media for lo these six days and nights. But like war, it appears the first casualty in catastrophism is the truth.

So, just how many people have been confirmed to have died to date in Mexico (and elsewhere) as a result of this deadly pandemic-like flu? Seven. Say, what! Yes, you heard. Seven.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the World Health Organization has come out to say that there are only seven deaths confirmed from swine flu, not 152 (and rising) as has been widely reported.

A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that more than 150 people have died from swine flu, saying it has officially recorded only seven deaths around the world.

Mexico has lowered its confirmed death toll from swine flu from 20 to seven, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters. He also raised the toll of "probable'' deaths from the H1N1 virus from 152 to 159. A total of 1311 people remain in hospital after exhibiting symptoms of the flu, he said.

Vivienne Allan, from WHO's patient safety program, said the body had confirmed that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease.

"Unfortunately that [150-plus deaths] is incorrect information and it does happen, but that's not information that's come from the World Health Organisation," Ms Allan told ABC Radio today.

"That figure is not a figure that's come from the World Health Organisation and, I repeat, the death toll is seven and they are all from Mexico."

Now, it is almost certain that there will be more deaths as a result of contracting this infection. But, to put the matter in perspective, one would venture to suggest that hundreds of people die every day around the world as a result of falling victim to various flu infections.

Ah, well. At least the media ratings went up a couple of notches, a few more newspapers were sold, and various politicians and government officials got their moment in the limelight, with everyone begging them, urging them to save them, and quickly. The adrenaline rush must have been huge.

But it is what the people want. They are afraid. Very afraid. They require that their leaders and officials be seen to be pulling out all stops to protect them. Politically it is a no brainer. Go in early. Go in big. Be seen to be reacting big time. There is no downside. People will readily forgive if the threat turns out to be a myth. Better safe than sorry.

The really interesting thing, however, is that if national political leaders and officials came out with a more measured and qualified response, they would immediately be discounted as propagandists or liars. Their credibility would be shot through instantly. Why? Why do so many people believe the end is nigh, and the worst is about to fall. Why do so many people live in fear? Why are national leaders immediately discounted as being deceptive and misleading if they are more cautious and qualified in their response to a perceived catastrophe?

We believe it has largely to do with the fact that the world no longer believes in Divine providence--that Christian belief that the all-governing, all-conditioning God rules over every moment in time and particle of reality for the ultimate good of His people. Christians believe that to be true for them and their households.

They believe it because the Lord Messiah declared it to be so.

"Consider the lilies of the field," He said. "They neither toil nor spin. Yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will be not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?

Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles (Unbelievers) eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6: 28--34

When there are plenty of Christians in a culture, their fundamental optimism toward the future, based upon their firm belief in the goodness of their heavenly Father towards them, becomes culturally more normative, so that even Unbelievers adopt it to a degree.

But when a culture no longer believes in the Living God, they are face to face with a minatory and hostile world. Life is exceptionally frail. There are enemies on every hand. The last final inviolable enemy is death. Therefore, fear accompanies Unbelief like the chorus of a Greek tragedy. Ultimately, for Unbelief, life is a tragedy; death is its terminal, teleological word. For the Unbeliever the ultimate purpose and meaning of life is death. Anything different is naive wishful thinking.

Therefore, for a culture dominated by Unbelief, fear broods just beneath the surface of life. A threat of a pandemic reifies almost immediately into the mind of the public as a virtual certainty. Any politician or leader who dares to gainsay or qualify risks becoming a blaspheming Public Enemy Number One overnight. And, of course, the official constant reinforcement of the threat serves to increase its veracity and certainty. "Save us! Save us!" is the querulous response.

This febrile outpouring of doomsaying continues until one little soul at the World Health Organization says, "Sorry, but only seven around the world have died." Eventually, everybody looks at one another sheepishly.

The world eventually settles down on the track again--until the next time.