Pseudoscience and Pseudoreligion in the Midst of an Epidemic

Ahmad Muttaqin

Humans are remarkably fragile. The arrogance shown in managing and exploiting nature is being challenged

Various methods, ranging from scientific approaches to spiritual practices, are being employed to combat the new Coronavirus. The healthcare sector is at the forefront, providing assistance and treatment to patients while working tirelessly to develop a vaccine for prevention. Meanwhile, the economic and social sectors are striving to mitigate the pandemic's impact, which has severely affected the industrial sector, trade in goods and services, and social life. At the same time, religious organizations are also offering spiritual support through prayer and comforting rituals.

Many people are questioning whether the new Coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), is a result of a natural process or human engineering. Proponents of conspiracy theories often argue that this virus was deliberately created in a laboratory for various interests, such as serving as a biological weapon or benefiting the vaccine and pharmaceutical industries. This article will not explore the pros and cons regarding the virus's origin. Instead, it will examine the level of "scientific reasoning and religious reasoning" reflected in the various responses from different parties in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding the origin of the virus and the lack of a vaccine and cure for Covid-19, it is ideal to address this pandemic using a combination of scientific methods and religious beliefs. Science and technology serve to prevent, treat, and manage the physical impacts of Covid-19, while religion provides spiritual support, helping individuals remain steadfast and resilient in their faith.

Ironically, much of the information circulating in society and on social media about Covid-19 has questionable scientific validity because it has not been scientifically proven. This information is often presented in a way that uses convincing language to appear scientific, even though it does not meet the standards of scientific credibility. This type of knowledge is referred to as pseudoscience Pseudoscience).  Robert Todd Carroll defenese pseudoscience “a set of ideas put forth as scientific when they are not scientific.” Menurut Richard H. Bube, pseudoscience resembles real science; it employs scientific terminology and claims scientific authority, but fundamentally violates the core principles of genuine scientific activity.

The English-language Wikipeda page outlines several indicators that can classify knowledge or information as pseudoscienceThese indicators include: 1. The use of excessive, unclear, or untestable claims. 2. Overreliance on confirmation rather than seeking refutation. 3. A lack of openness to testing by other experts. 4. No progress in correcting findings or in adding evidence, arguments, and statistical data. 5. Personalization of the issue by labeling critics as enemies, adopting a conspiratorial perspective toward scientific communities that offer criticism, and attacking the personal character of those critics. 6. The use of misleading language that incorporates "scientific" terms to persuade the general public.

The Republika page once published an article discussing the rise of pseudoscience in medicine within society. This phenomenon is characterized by several factors: 1. Adhering to theories without sufficient research, often presenting explanations that seem too good to be truesuch as claims of miracle drugs that can cure a variety of diseases. 2. Building arguments based on ancient wisdom or inherited beliefs. 3. all-natural fallacy which suggests that anything natural is inherently safe, while anything synthetic is always harmful. 4. suppressed miracle, which involve narratives of miraculous cures accompanied by exaggerated claims and personal it worked for me testimonies stating that a particular treatment worked for them.

From a religious perspective, much of the knowledge and information circulating in society is based not on genuine religiongenuine religionbut pseudoreligion sometimes written as pseudo-religion, atau disebut juga Pseudo-Theology). Menurut Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia Edisi V (KBBI V), pseudo artinya: semu, palsu, bukan sebenarnya. Jadi, secara harfiah pseudoreligion berarti agama semu, agama palsu, atau agama gadungan. Dalam “Religion and pseudo-religion: an elusive boundary”, Sami Pihlström (2007) menggunakan istilah “Pseudo-religion” dalam pengertian superstition (takhayul, bid’ah dan khurafat) dan sesuatu yang mendekati “hypocrisy” (kemunafikan).

From a religious perspective, much of the knowledge and information circulating in society is based not on genuine religion but on pseudoreligion (sometimes written as pseudo-religion or referred to as pseudo-theology). According to the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language Edition V (KBBI V), "pseudo" means fake, false, or not real. Therefore, pseudoreligion literally refers to a false or fake religion. In his work "Religion and Pseudoreligion: An Elusive Boundary," Sami Pihlström (2007) uses the term "pseudoreligion" to describe superstition, heresy, and concepts related to hypocrisy.

Several factors can contribute to the classification of religious knowledge as pseudo, fake, or counterfeit. These include: 1. Inappropriate references to sacred texts, often lacking proper context. 2. Using past events in analogies that are not relevant or appear forced. 3. Creating simplistic future predictions based on religious texts. 4. Manipulating religious teachings for specific motives, such as political or economic gain, or to discredit and exploit certain groups.

Is there a relationship between pseudoscience and pseudoreligion? It turns out there is a significant overlap between the two. A notable example is the exaggerated belief that certain herbal remedies, prayers, and rituals can ward off or cure Covid-19. This belief is often accompanied by explanations that seem scientific but rely on misinterpretations of sacred texts, ignoring their original context. Additionally, these claims are often bolstered by anecdotal stories of past successes, while lacking substantial data and research evidence. Another example is the assertion made by a particular religious group that the coronavirus is intimidated by its congregation due to their performance of specific rituals. This has led to an attitude of underestimating the importance of health protocols that should be observed.

While acknowledging the hard work of communities from various cultural and religious backgrounds, it is essential to be discerning when evaluating the information circulating about the Covid-19 pandemic. We must differentiate between legitimate science and pseudoscience, as well as between genuine religious beliefs and pseudoreligion. This distinction requires a solid understanding of both scientific and religious literacy. Ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between science and religion are crucial. Without such efforts, the unchecked proliferation of pseudoscience and pseudoreligion could worsen the current crisis and negatively impact society.