[FoRK] At the risk of inflaming JB and others ...

[Jeff Bone]

There's nothing to say about this that hasn't already been said ad  
nauseam.  Just another one for the files.

jb

On Mar 30, 2008, at 2:27 AM, Kynan Shook wrote:

> Well, I didn't want to be the one to strike up the religious wars  
> again, but as long as it's going... ;-)
>
> http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/16993511.html
>
> The short summary:
> "Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin says an 11-year-old girl died  
> after her parents prayed for healing rather than getting medical  
> help for a treatable form of diabetes."
>
> There's some real choice quotes from the family, too:
> "The police chief says the girl's parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann,  
> attributed the death to the fact they apparently didn't have enough  
> faith."
>
> "Her mother, Leilani Neumann, says she never expected her daughter  
> to die. She says the family believes in the Bible and the Bible says  
> healing comes from God, but they are not crazy, religious people."
>
> Now, I'm sure everybody will agree that this is an unfortunate  
> event, regardless of their personal views.  I'd guess that most  
> would probably think it was wrong of the parents to do this.  But  
> when does it become "okay" to teach that a deity will heal you, and  
> you can forgo science and medicine?  If one wasn't making such  
> ridiculous claims under the umbrella of religious beliefs, I'm sure  
> all sorts of charges would be leveled, especially if you had some  
> sort of leadership or authority, whether perceived or actual.  But a  
> religious leader (whether appointed, "chosen by god", self-appointed  
> - officially or not) can say anything, and nobody can second guess it.
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