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CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 09:40 PM Aug 2018

A 10-month-old died after her parents refused to get help for religious reasons

For all those who think it's not harmful to believe in fairy tales, this baby was found dead "... in her crib from malnutrition and dehydration". The father is not just an anti-vaccer, but also believed that it's God's will that the weak should be allowed to die. His behavior is completely consistent with his vocal religious beliefs.

Before someone objects that this is just an insane extreme, let me point out that it's a matter of degree, not kind, that separates this murder from socially acceptable behavior based on one's faith.

Really? Yes. Just one example: my wife's grandmother refused diagnostics or treatment of whatever illness it was that took her life. It was completely socially acceptable to just let her die because of her "Christian Science" faith. We never found out what illness took her ... it could have been something trivial to cure.

Believing in fairy tales is evil. It distorts priorities, causes immoral and irrational behavior and frequently hurts others.

Yes I'm an unapologetically angry atheist. It's not difficult to guess why.

A 10-month-old died after her parents refused to get help for religious reasons, police say

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A 10-month-old died after her parents refused to get help for religious reasons (Original Post) CloudWatcher Aug 2018 OP
Jail the fake pro life murderers. onecaliberal Aug 2018 #1
They are likely going to jail ... CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #2
Something could have been done for this child. leanforward Aug 2018 #3
Grandma CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #4
Freedom of religion... of course. keithbvadu2 Aug 2018 #5
god's will. my grandma's friedn p rayed when their kid started choking. pansypoo53219 Aug 2018 #6
I can't believe this is STILL going on BigmanPigman Aug 2018 #7
Christian Scientists --- Mark Twain: "Mary Baker Eddy proves God has a sense of humor." 3Hotdogs Aug 2018 #9
Freedom from Religion CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #10
They let you decide what you want it to go towards. BigmanPigman Aug 2018 #12
Beyond ... CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #13
Same thing has happened many times in Oregon.. Permanut Aug 2018 #8
so sad CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #11
Sessiona new task force edhopper Aug 2018 #14
Similar things happen far more often than is recognized, I'm sure. MineralMan Aug 2018 #15
legal system not the right venue ... CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #16
Teaching is no assurance of learning. MineralMan Aug 2018 #17
Agreed, but that's pretty dark (( CloudWatcher Aug 2018 #18

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
2. They are likely going to jail ...
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 09:47 PM
Aug 2018

Note the father is just stunned ... mouth wide-open in disbelief that their behavior is considered criminal and not lauded as the highest moral standards.

leanforward

(1,073 posts)
3. Something could have been done for this child.
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:12 PM
Aug 2018

I fault the parent(s). May the law put them away.

The parent refused to help the helpless. Grandma wanted out. I'm an old guy, respect the wishes of those that have been around for a while.

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
4. Grandma
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:23 PM
Aug 2018

Grandma wanted God's will. She didn't particularly want to die, she just didn't believe in doctors or medicine. I'm sure if she had gotten better she would have been great with that.

I'm an old guy too. I'm in favor of death with dignity rights. But dying early because it's God's will is not something I'll ever support.

pansypoo53219

(20,908 posts)
6. god's will. my grandma's friedn p rayed when their kid started choking.
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 11:21 PM
Aug 2018

my grandma. held her upside down & got it dislodged. i guess their prayers worked.

BigmanPigman

(51,432 posts)
7. I can't believe this is STILL going on
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 11:22 PM
Aug 2018

in today's modern times. Where is the justice? Christian Scientists have been getting away this for over a hundred years. I think I will go write another check to FFR (like Ron Reagan Jr, I am not afraid of burning in Hell).

BigmanPigman

(51,432 posts)
12. They let you decide what you want it to go towards.
Thu Aug 9, 2018, 02:56 AM
Aug 2018

I always prefer more advertising. An added bonus is you get a monthly newspaper (not to be used to wrap the Friday night fish dinner in).

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
13. Beyond ...
Thu Aug 9, 2018, 03:16 AM
Aug 2018

I like that in addition to lifetime memberships, they have "Individual After-life" and "Individual Beyond After Life" ... someone there has a sense of humor!

Permanut

(5,439 posts)
8. Same thing has happened many times in Oregon..
Wed Aug 8, 2018, 11:31 PM
Aug 2018

The "Followers of Christ" (There's an Orwellian name for ya) has killed many children. Yes, I said killed.


Of 78 children buried in the church cemetery from 1955 to 1998, at least 21 could have been saved by medical intervention, according to a 1998 analysis by The Oregonian.

[link:https://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-city/index.ssf/2017/03/followers_of_christ_investigat.html|

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
11. so sad
Thu Aug 9, 2018, 02:40 AM
Aug 2018

As a parent, I've abandoned rational thought when it comes to protecting children. I usually believe that I'm against the death penalty, but for someone that hurts children ... I'd be the first to volunteer to throw the switch.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
15. Similar things happen far more often than is recognized, I'm sure.
Thu Aug 9, 2018, 09:32 AM
Aug 2018

Young children are not capable of making religious or medical care decisions, so their parents make them. The decision to let a sick child die, rather than to seek medical care, is one of the consequences of believing that some invisible, supernatural entity's will is the determinant.

We have laws that can remove children from their parents' care in such cases, but they are rarely, rarely used. Typically, time in a courtroom is required for them to be applied, and that time is often long enough for the sick child to either die or recover. Prosecutors are loath to get involved in such cases, unfortunately.

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
16. legal system not the right venue ...
Thu Aug 9, 2018, 12:58 PM
Aug 2018

Yes, though I think the legal system is not the right place to address this. You shouldn't wait until there's someone in serious danger. I expect we'll have this issue until schools are required to teach critical thinking. But it's not just organized religion that wants obedient consumers, so I'm not holding my breath.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
17. Teaching is no assurance of learning.
Thu Aug 9, 2018, 01:03 PM
Aug 2018

It never has been. The law is there to protect everyone. That includes children. We need to be able to step in when idiots put children in danger. We have no other means of doing so.

CloudWatcher

(1,831 posts)
18. Agreed, but that's pretty dark ((
Sun Aug 12, 2018, 04:23 PM
Aug 2018

I've always been optimistic that most people are capable of learning and will behave morally if given the chance.

Of course there will always be a minority of psycho/sociopaths that require laws and enforcement, but if we're actually an intelligent species (*) that shouldn't be our best tool to encourage appropriate behavior.

(*) Given the enormous number of Trump supporters, I'm not at all sure that we qualify.

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