Religion
Related: About this forumA 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
onecaliberal
(32,489 posts)CloudWatcher
(1,831 posts)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)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)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.
keithbvadu2
(36,371 posts)Freedom of religion... of course.
pansypoo53219
(20,908 posts)my grandma. held her upside down & got it dislodged. i guess their prayers worked.
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)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).
3Hotdogs
(12,210 posts)CloudWatcher
(1,831 posts)Thank you, I keep forgetting to join!
For the google-impaired, here's the link to join: https://secure.ffrf.org/np/clients/ffrf/membershipJoin.jsp
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)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)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)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)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.
edhopper
(33,213 posts)should be deployed to help these poor people.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)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)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)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)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.