In this excerpt from The Dennis Prager Show (recorded March 24, 2020), Dennis Prager frames the COVID‑19 crisis as an "ultimate issue": the need to choose between policies that may cause many deaths from the virus and policies that could devastate the economy, leading to tens of millions of indirect victims. He notes a striking partisan divide—conservatives appear far less worried than liberals—and explores possible explanations. While some attribute the gap to religious faith (the belief that God will protect believers), Prager rejects that as the primary cause, emphasizing his own theology that God does not act as a personal superhero. He also acknowledges the presence of secular conservatives, suggesting the divide is more complex. The segment ends with a promise to return after a brief break.
Chapters
Uh, I'm not going to have the normal Ultimate Issues Hour next hour because the— we're living an ultimate issue, and that is how do you make decisions that on the one hand might lead to many deaths and on the other hand might lead to, uh, the death of, of an economy of a country which has tens of millions of victims, and it will certainly include the health consequences of all this. So anyway, I just want you to know, and I want to, I want to tell you about that story. Okay everybody, let's see. You know, it's very, it's very interesting. Very, very interesting. I mean, all of the calls that I see, and the board is full again, showing line 2 is broken. The, uh, all the calls here are that we are overreacting. One of the most interesting questions of the moment we are living is why are people who are conservative less worried than people who are liberal and left? I mean, it's a massive difference. Do you have an idea why that might be? It is, see, a lot of conservatives, you might say, well, they're more religious, they think God will save them. First of all, I don't know anybody, I'm sure there are people, I'm deeply religious, I don't believe God will save me, okay? That's never been my view of God. God is not Dennis Prager's Superman, God is not Dennis Prager's, Butler. I am here to do what God wants. He is not there to do what I want. Okay, that's the basic theology of mine. So look, if you're religious and you think God will, will make sure you don't get the virus and die from it, okay, I'm not going to try to talk you out of it because if it brings you comfort, I'm happy for you. But I don't think that's the reason for the divide. And there are a lot of secular conservatives too. Much to talk about. We shall return.
The Dennis Prager Show, live from the Relief Factor Pain-Free Studio.
