The danger of religion. .

[Poetess]

OK, So. . . I have been thinking about some serious consequences of religion, and more so, specific churches. I have a couple of examples in mind. This thread is open to all.

Some people would sooner neglect or let a family member die than agree to a medication or blood transfusion. Do these people actually believe it is for the best? If they do, even so, how could one live knowing that a child or such died because of their actions, or lack of?


I have been thinking and two events came to mind:

A few months back, I was visiting a city and went out with my second cousins' wife and granddaughter for the day. We bought the girl some chocolate from the store, and she looked as if she'd never seen chocolate before. I asked if she did not like chocolate, and she said, "I do. I am just never given chocolate or candy at home; we also are not allowed to watch TV or go play with regular kids." At this point my eyebrow almost flew off into orbit. I asked her why not, and she replied that a couple of years ago her mother decided that her family would go to a Jehovah's witness church. I asked her what she thought of that, and she didn't say much for a moment, but a few minutes later, she said sometimes she worried. She said she learned in church that if she were in a car accident and lost blood, she would die and it scared her. She said she heard in church that blood transfusions were not allowed, and her mother told her it's because giving away blood is like accepting/giving part of a soul. She's a 10-year-old child and should not have to worry about things like that.

Then, in school several years ago, I knew a girl that was always sick. I told her she should go to the doctor, and she said her family did not allow that; they didn't believe in doctors, surgery, or medication because of their religious rules. I believe they were Christian Scientists, if I remember correctly.

So, these are my examples.

You always hear about these things to some extent, but speaking to people that it applies to - especially children - it really brings it to life and makes you think.

What is everyone's take on this? It is something I can't fathom, personally.

[Minimalist]

Do these people actually believe it is for the best?

Yes.


Because they are idiots.

[Forsaken]

JW have other weird beliefs (Source: http://watchthetower.net/reasons.html)

---

22. They are forbidden to serve in the military
23. They are forbidden to buy Girl Scout cookies
30. They are forbidden to celebrate any holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc.)
31. They are forbidden to celebrate their birthday
32. They are forbidden to run for or hold a political office
33. They are forbidden to vote in any political campaign
34. They are forbidden to serve on a jury
35. They are forbidden to own or wear a cross
36. They are forbidden to speak to former members who are shunned (disfellowshipped)
37. They are forbidden to accept Christmas gifts
38. They are forbidden to purchase Christian products (books, music, plaques, pictures etc.)
39. They are forbidden to read Christian literature
40. They are forbidden to have friends who are not Jehovah's Witnesses
41. They are forbidden to marry a non-Jehovah's Witness
42. They are forbidden to salute the flag, stand for the national anthem, or own a flag
43. They are forbidden to say "God bless you" when someone sneezes.
44. They are forbidden to have a tattoo
45. They are forbidden to use pet foods made with blood or blood products
46. They are forbidden to donate blood or their organs
47. They are forbidden to read any anti-Jehovah's Witness material
48. They are forbidden to interpret the Bible without Watchtower literature to explain it
49. They are forbidden to wear any Christian jewelry
50. They are forbidden to support their country and be patriotic
51. They are forbidden to be involved in martial arts, boxing or wrestling
52. They are forbidden to join any clubs or sports teams
53. They are forbidden to participate in a school play
54. They are forbidden to use any tobacco products
55. They are forbidden to attend the funeral of an ex-Jehovah's Witness
56. They are forbidden to say "good luck"
57. They are forbidden to be a police officer
58. Women are forbidden pray in the presence of men without a hat or head covering
59. They are forbidden to play chess
60. They are forbidden to wear jade jewelry
61. They must not own wind-chimes (they are for chasing away evil spirits)
62. They must read and study Watchtower literature regularly
63. They must go from door to door weekly to gain converts
64. They must attend five meetings per week
65. Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage
66. Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls have no windows
67. If they witness another Jehovah's Witness breaking the rules they must report them to the elders to be interrogated
68. They are forbidden to take a blood transfusion
69. Men are forbidden wear beards
70. The Watchtower organization is God's prophet on earth today
71. Women must submit to the authority of Watchtower elders
72. They must forgo vacations to attend annual conventions

---

[frankiej]

Being a JW seems like a good way to get out of jury duty.

[Faith No More]

If they do, even so, how could one live knowing that a child or such died because of their actions, or lack of?

Thus is the mindset when you think this life is a test to determine where you land in an eternal life following this one. After all, what's a little unnecessary death if you believe it gets your child into heaven?

[NoMoreFaith]

http://whatstheharm.net/

Long list of things where a lack of critical thinking causes harm. Religion, Pseudoscience etc.

I only get so far before I feel a bit ill to be honest, although some come across as amusing.

[Poetess]

Wow. I read a lot of things in there; it's disturbing some of the things that have been done/happened.

Though this one may not be disturbing like the rest of it, this stood out:
John Wayne "Punkin" Brown Jr.
Age: 34
Parrottsville, Tennessee
Died
October 3, 1998

Even though his wife had died doing it, he continued practicing snake handling in his church. He died three years later, orphaning his five children.


Snake handling? WTF.

---

Do these people actually believe it is for the best?

Because they are idiots.

No doubt.

JW have other weird beliefs (Source: http://watchthetower.net/reasons.html)

---

22. They are forbidden to serve in the military
23. They are forbidden to buy Girl Scout cookies
30. They are forbidden to celebrate any holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc.)
31. They are forbidden to celebrate their birthday
32. They are forbidden to run for or hold a political office
33. They are forbidden to vote in any political campaign
34. They are forbidden to serve on a jury
35. They are forbidden to own or wear a cross
36. They are forbidden to speak to former members who are shunned (disfellowshipped)
37. They are forbidden to accept Christmas gifts
38. They are forbidden to purchase Christian products (books, music, plaques, pictures etc.)
39. They are forbidden to read Christian literature
40. They are forbidden to have friends who are not Jehovah's Witnesses
41. They are forbidden to marry a non-Jehovah's Witness
42. They are forbidden to salute the flag, stand for the national anthem, or own a flag
43. They are forbidden to say "God bless you" when someone sneezes.
44. They are forbidden to have a tattoo
45. They are forbidden to use pet foods made with blood or blood products
46. They are forbidden to donate blood or their organs
47. They are forbidden to read any anti-Jehovah's Witness material
48. They are forbidden to interpret the Bible without Watchtower literature to explain it
49. They are forbidden to wear any Christian jewelry
50. They are forbidden to support their country and be patriotic
51. They are forbidden to be involved in martial arts, boxing or wrestling
52. They are forbidden to join any clubs or sports teams
53. They are forbidden to participate in a school play
54. They are forbidden to use any tobacco products
55. They are forbidden to attend the funeral of an ex-Jehovah's Witness
56. They are forbidden to say "good luck"
57. They are forbidden to be a police officer
58. Women are forbidden pray in the presence of men without a hat or head covering
59. They are forbidden to play chess
60. They are forbidden to wear jade jewelry
61. They must not own wind-chimes (they are for chasing away evil spirits)
62. They must read and study Watchtower literature regularly
63. They must go from door to door weekly to gain converts
64. They must attend five meetings per week
65. Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage
66. Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls have no windows
67. If they witness another Jehovah's Witness breaking the rules they must report them to the elders to be interrogated
68. They are forbidden to take a blood transfusion
69. Men are forbidden wear beards
70. The Watchtower organization is God's prophet on earth today
71. Women must submit to the authority of Watchtower elders
72. They must forgo vacations to attend annual conventions

---

Yeah. I knew a lot of that. I just had no idea that my second cousin's step-daughter had went off her rocker. I'm with you on it being strange, though. Probably an understatement.

If they do, even so, how could one live knowing that a child or such died because of their actions, or lack of?

Thus is the mindset when you think this life is a test to determine where you land in an eternal life following this one. After all, what's a little unnecessary death if you believe it gets your child into heaven?

Yeah. What's a few deaths for a story book character?

[Thor]

These idiots deny themselves and their children life saving medical treatment. And they have the gall to say they "lose nothing" by believing in their deity!

[Disciple]

In my opinion the people who will not allow blood transfusions especially for children because of so called "faith" are nothing more than idiots. I believe that prayer is always a good thing but so is medicine and medical attention. God has given mankind the power to heal themselves. When man is unable to heal himself sometimes God will intervene. He gave us the knowledge on how to to blood transfusions, kidney transplants and the like. It reminds me of the story about when the town flooded and the guy is traped on his roof and a lifeboat comes to save him and he refuses help and tells the crew that God will take care of it and the man drowns. In reality god sent the lifeboat.

[genkaus]

In my opinion the people who will not allow blood transfusions especially for children because of so called "faith" are nothing more than idiots. I believe that prayer is always a good thing but so is medicine and medical attention. God has given mankind the power to heal themselves. When man is unable to heal himself sometimes God will intervene. He gave us the knowledge on how to to blood transfusions, kidney transplants and the like. It reminds me of the story about when the town flooded and the guy is traped on his roof and a lifeboat comes to save him and he refuses help and tells the crew that God will take care of it and the man drowns. In reality god sent the lifeboat.

That's where you are wrong.

You see, HIV spreads through blood transfusion as well. Which means, god created AIDS to punish those sinful blood transfusers. Well, it is used to punish homosexuals as well, but it is also used to punish those try to heal themselves through blood transfusions, instead of prayer like god really wants them to.