Was canvassing for RFK Jr. on Sunday. Guy came to the door, friendly enough. Had a big BLM sign on the window, with extras, like “peace”, and “respect.”

He smiled and was very receptive, when he saw my long hair and tattoos – that must mean that I am cool. But then he glanced down at my T-Shirt, which said, “Robert F. Kennedy for President, 2024.” All of a sudden, his face blanched.

And he said, almost apologetically, “I believe in vaccines.”. He gave off the vibe that he expected the rest to be self-explanatory: clearly, a vaccine believer cannot look at a vaccine denier.

I just said, “Kennedy is not against vaccines. He is for informed consent.”. Left it at that. But he would not touch my door hanger!

Not faulting the guy. Just want to explore why so many people use the word “belief”, these days, since Covid, when referring to things I would consider empirical, scientific matters – no “belief” required, traditionally.

But of course, it’s all changed. Science has replace religion, particularly in the faith zone. Please be careful with my words – I am not saying that all science is a religion. Instead, I am saying that many people view Science™ in the same way that religion was viewed, throughout the history of humankind: a construct by means of which inexplicable or unexplained phenomena could be rendered, simply, and comprehensibly – and believably! Clearly, the origin of the universe can be explained by either G*d’s creation, or, the “big bang” theory. I think that “scientists” would immediately contest G*d’s hand in anything, but, a still tenuous THEORY – yes, it has not be empirically proven – is easy to base your world view on. So, we are looking at Science™ as unquestioned dogma. Those words may sound “leftist” – whenever you say “dogma”, it comes off as combative.

In our modern era, we bashed religion, at least Christianity, starting in 60’s, until now, where it kind of hobbles along on one foot, at best. And we think it’s because we got elevated, intellectually, to a point where we don’t need the “crutch” of faith anymore. Here to tell you that, for atheists heretics alike, you don’t make it without some kind of faith. Because you can’t feel safe with a bunch of phenomena that cannot be explained. No one can. Except a certain kind of Buddhist…

Back to vaccines. To say “I believe in vaccines” is a pretty ign’ant thing to say. First of all, why do you believe? You need to trace the origins of your belief, question them rigorously, and if you return a believer, then you are a true believer. Jesus’ followers were put to the test, and failed. Jesus was put to the test, and, with some doubt, kept his faith. Point is, everyone needs to test their faith – not empirically – but through the litmus of the self and self-awareness.

So, did you test your faith in vaccines? Do you know where your faith comes from? In religion, we mostly study scriptures. In medical Science™, we should study studies, right? Did you read a bunch of clinical trials – yourself? Or did you take the word of a Science™ Preacher? Using cynical terms again. Even in the Yoga Sutras, true knowledge can be gained by listening to a trustworthy person – usually a person who has had the first-hand experience. So yes, we do need experts, since we cannot do the research ourselves, and, really, we don’t have the knowledge to fully comprehend the studies. But did you actually get your “facts” from a person? Or the internet? Or a government agency? These are not the same.

Second of all, do you mean all vaccines? Or are you just limiting your belief to these current times, i.e. are you thinking Covid vaccine, but saying just vaccine? And which Covid vaccines? As you know, there were various covid vaccines, rapidly developed, scantily tested, and quickly released without FDA approval (they were all grandfathered under the same legality as the flu vaccine, that is, all flus are the same, so why test each vaccine?). Recent evidence shows a link to auto-immune diseases in the bi-valent vaccines – which have now been quietly taken off the market. So don’t believe in that one!

How about the polio vaccine? All good? Even Bobby Kennedy Jr took that one, back in the day. Turned out that those doses developed using monkey flesh had serious side effects, which could surface in you today! But no one wanted polio, but maybe we all would have at least appreciated the truth, either at the time, or now, since we are all affected. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221112/

Point is, vaccines are not a simple question. Not surely a matter for “belief”. Isn’t the best practice to test any vaccine thoroughly? Isn’t the best practice publishing any and all information, immediately after it becomes available?

Or do you believe that your Government and the manufacturers should hide some information from the mass public, because doubt is dangerous? That is, herd mentality is necessary to herd immunity. Is that what you want? Because I won’t/can’t argue with you on that.

I personally want all the evidence, straight, no chaser. In fact, I think that all manufacturers and Government health agencies should see transparent information as their main job – not acting as our parents, and only telling us things that won’t scare us.