1. Religious attitudes towards HIV-positive people and AIDS
    Islam  Judaism and Jewish thinkers   Christianity    Hinduism  

2. Prevention
    Catholicism  Buddhism 

3. Treatment

4. References

The relationship between religion and HIV/AIDS is complicated, and often controversial. Controversies have mainly revolved around LGBT people and condom use.

Religious attitudes towards HIV-positive people and AIDS

Islam

The question of Islam and AIDS has arisen in recent years as the HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown stronger, with awareness and efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.^[1] Many Muslims view the AIDS epidemic through what is called the “prism of sin”, and as the consequence of sinful behavior, such as prostitution, sex with multiple partners or promiscuity.^[1] Awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is growing among the Muslim community and efforts are being initiated to prevent its spread. The Muslim Awareness Programme (MAP), based in South Africa is a faith-based organization that promotes HIV/AIDS prevention strategies based on the moral teachings of Islam. These activities include the promotion of abstinence from all sexual activity outside marriage; refraining from drug use, and instilling faithfulness within marriage. According to most Muslims, the key to combating to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is prevention.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} In their view, the Islamic position on morality, chastity and the sanctity of marriage needs to be shared with the world. Islam cites sex with multiple partners, sex outside marriage, other promiscuous sexual behaviors and homosexuality as immoral and as a result of this some Muslims consider this behavior the main cause of HIV/AIDS, believing that promoting abstinence, chastity, and intramarital sex is the key to ending or at least containing the epidemic.

Judaism and Jewish thinkers

As opposed to the Catholic Church and some other denominations or religions, today, there isn't any central Jewish religious authority that is acceptable by vast majority of religious Jews or by most Jewish religious movements.

In Jewish Orthodox society, having AIDS is considered a mark of disgrace.^[4]

Conservative and Reform Judaism emphasize the importance of bikur cholim, the responsibility to care for the sick:

"The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism calls upon all of its congregations to reach out to individuals infected with the AIDS virus, their families and their friends by providing acceptance, comfort, counseling, and sympathetic and empathetic listening; and ... affirms that those infected with the AIDS virus must be protected from all forms of illegal discrimination, such as discriminatory housing, employment, health care delivery services and synagogue services."^[5] Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, Director of the Joint Commission on Social Action of the Union for Reform Judaism: "However, we must look past the incomprehensible statistics and long lists of facts and recognize the Divine image within the faces of the individual people infected and affected by this disease. The responsibility lies with each of us to protect and care for these victims ..."^[6]

Christianity

Many Christian charities provide services for people living with HIV/AIDS.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} One example is the "Drug Resources Enhancement against Aids and Malnutrition" (DREAM), program promoted by the Christian Community of Sant'Egidio.

Hinduism

Hinduism has shown support for research aimed at curing HIV/AIDS, and care for those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Prevention

Catholicism

The Catholic Church opposes condom use between heterosexual couples because it is an artificial form of contraception that does not rely on the functions of the body (and thus also God's will) itself as to whether a conception will occur or not, and the Church believes it also serves to implicitly and inexcusably encourage premarital and extramarital sexuality (and recourse to abortion if the condom fails).{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

On November 20, 2010, when questioned about the rampant HIV spread in Africa, Pope Benedict XVI suggested that the use of condoms in male prostitution is not a moral solution to stopping AIDS, but could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection."^[13] Vatican City clarifies, after Benedict's statement sows confusion, that the position of the Church on condoms has not changed. It is merely a statement that in homosexual relations, where unnatural contraception is not the main concern, condoms can be seen as moral responsibility in preventing HIV infections.^[14] On November 23, 2010, Benedict furthermore stated that the concept of condoms as a lesser evil in preventing HIV infections can be applied to women as well. The use of condoms is the first step in taking responsibility and attempting to prevent the infection of one's partner. The Pope does not say anything about condoms being acceptable as unnatural birth control, only as a responsible approach.^[15]

Buddhism

In Thailand, some Buddhist monks encourage the use of condoms for HIV prevention.^[16] As part of Mechai Viravaidya's pro-condom campaign, Buddhist monks have offered blessed condoms for couples.^[17]

Treatment

The work of some Christian ministries has affected the treatment of AIDS. According to the African Health Policy Network, some churches in London claim that prayer will cure AIDS and the Hackney-based Centre for the Study of Sexual Health and HIV reports that several people have stopped taking their medication, sometimes on the direct advice of their pastor, leading to a number of deaths.^[18] The Synagogue Church Of All Nations advertise an "anointing water" to promote God's healing, although the group deny advising people to stop taking medication,^[18] and US patent application 2001051133 similarly suggests that intravenous pure distilled water will eradicate HIV through the mercy of God.^[19] Other Christian churches actively distribute HIV/AIDS medication.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

References

• Sphaeronaema adiposum
• Sphaeronaema fimbriatum
• Sphaeronaema lycopersici
• Sphaeronaema parasitica
• Sphaeronaema pilifera
• Sphaeronaema pithyophilum
• Sphaeronycteris toxophyllum
• Sphaerophysa dianchiensis
• Sphaerophysa (fish)
• Sphaeroplea
• Sphaeropleaceae
• Sphaeropsis acicola
• Sphaeropsis blight
• Sphaeropsis Blight
• Sphaeropsis malorum
• Sphaeropsis musarum
• Sphaeropsis nebulosa
• Sphaeropsis obscurans
• Sphaeropsis quercicola
• Sphaeropsis tumefaciens
• Sphaeropsis ulmicola
• Sphaeropsocidae
• Sphaeropteris
• Sphaeropteris albidosquamata
• Sphaeropteris cooperi