-Removed-Well like I said, how we describe it or classify it doesn't really matter, is pollen 'alive'? I don't know, I'm not a scientist, but the effect is the same. We could call viruses 'the undead' or whatever, but they can still do nasty things, my point is that they don't mean to be nasty, any more than mosquitoes mean to give us malaria. I don't think we actually have any disagreement on this point.
@bigdoggproblem saidI don't really see what expertise that theologians can realistically claim to have regarding epidemiology. If they weighed in, for example, on the issue of whether to inject disinfectant to treat viruses, would it be legitimate for theologians to bring their supposed expertise to bear upon it?
Some theology merits surgery...this kind deserves amputation, IMHO.