This one was refferred to me via my wife.  From Science Based Medicine Faith Healing: Religious Freedom vs. Child Protection « Science-Based Medicine:

This is one of the most disturbing and sad cases of what can go on in communities that put their faith in well faith and not reason.

“It has been argued that most of the increase in human lifespan was due to advances in hygiene rather than to advances in medicine. The estimates of a 26-fold increase in infant mortality and a 900-fold increase in maternal mortality among the untreated Followers of Christ demonstrate just how valuable modern medical care really is.”

These estimates as stated within the article are actually quite conservative.  However conservative they may be, the rates are astounding and quite telling.  Medical advances are available that can save lives.  The church argues against abortion on the basis that every life is sacred, logically speaking if a life is sacred before birth we should afford it the courtesy of protection after birth.

What I found interesting, was that the Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to pay for many of the non medical services that have resulted in these medical neglect related deaths.  At the bare minimum, if the ACA were to fund alternative faith based medicine it should be mandated that it is in conjunction with science based traditional medicine.

I will tackle some of the ethical and moral intricacies that stem from the so called “Christian Science” movement over at Guided Conscience at a later date, but for now I suggest you read Faith Healing: Religious Freedom vs. Child Protection.

Remember this is the extreme case, this is not the norm for religious communities.  It does however bring home another point.  Take care of your kids.  Vaccinate your kids.  When children in the United States to contract Polio 22 years after the Vaccine was made available it is because parents were directly responsible in their neglect.  The same is true with whooping cough, mumps, measles, and many other diseases we have created a vaccine for.  When it comes to the flu, yes it is true the flue vaccine is only designed for specific flu viruses, but it is also a solid protection specifically against the most likely.  By protecting as much of the population from the flu as possible you in turn prevent its spread among the population by virtue of stopping the few infections in their tracks.

Side note that I found rather amusing.

“But Oregon law still allows religious exemptions for caregivers of dependent adults, and it still allows religious exemptions for immunizations, metabolic screening (for conditions like PKU), newborn hearing screening, vitamin K and prophylactic eye drops for newborns, and bicycle helmets. “

One can only speculate at the bicycle helmets clause.  Perhaps this has more to do with other religions than Christianity, though I would suspect otherwise.  Maybe it is biblical

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”  Ephesians 6:10-18 King James Bible 

If I were a marketing guy I would create the Bike Helmet of Salvation and try to sell it in Oregon.  Just a thought.

‘via Blog this’

Part of why my faith has floundered is no doubt from a lack of Christian Fellowship.  As a non Catholic, I have come to see the Sunday service as a place to go and worship with others but this has been a weakening interest over time.  Then came the fact that I just didn’t get much out of the service.  The longer I separated from the service the more my faith waned and the less solace I took in Christ.

Father Souza (a friend of mine from Officer Candidate School) explores part of this issue through the Catholic Faith.  How can I get more out of going to Mass? | Father Gerald Souza’s Blog:

“ Faith is the acceptance of something told by another. Faith is divided into two categories which both stem from the authority of the source, human or divine. Human faith accepts something because the person speaking it is accepted to honest. Divine faith, on the other hand, acknowledges something to be true because God is the one to be believed.”

In my case the further I have strayed from service my human faith has faltered in terms of trusting the teacher.  This then is a spiral, the less faith I have in a preacher/church/bible study the less likely I am to attend and the less responsive I will be to the lessons they have to teach.

The second point Father Souza makes is this:

“Faith, as a theological virtue, is something which is infused to persons by God when they enter into His friendship (usually at baptism). Since faith is a virtue, it is something which must be practiced. The best way for us to think of the infused virtue of faith is as acapacity. The baptized person now has the capacity to assent to divinely revealed truths. We can talk about the Deposit of Faith, or collection of divinely revealed truths, later. More important than having the answers to various religious questions, is the choice to assent to what God has spoken.”

The problem then arises that complacency in faith leads to a loss of virtue.  If by not attending service you are already making yourself intrinsically less likely to be receptive and then continuing by not partaking in the Divine Faith, rejection of faith continues to spiral out of control.

The only solution to the problem is in fact taking an initial plunge.  For those who have never been sure, for those who just don’t know and are full of questions the only way to get answers is in fact to ask.  Perhaps it is pride that keeps me away.  A simple desire to look for answers on my own and not ask for help.  Perhaps this pride is what weakens my own Divine Faith.

Regardless of the issue, it would appear that Father Souza is correct.  The only way to get anything out of service is by actively engaging one’s Faith, be it Divine or Human.

‘via Blog this’

Part of why my faith has floundered is no doubt from a lack of Christian Fellowship.  As a non Catholic, I have come to see the Sunday service as a place to go and worship with others but this has been a weakening interest over time.  Then came the fact that I just didn’t get much out of the service.  The longer I separated from the service the more my faith waned and the less solace I took in Christ.

Father Souza (a friend of mine from Officer Candidate School) explores part of this issue through the Catholic Faith.  How can I get more out of going to Mass? | Father Gerald Souza’s Blog:

“ Faith is the acceptance of something told by another. Faith is divided into two categories which both stem from the authority of the source, human or divine. Human faith accepts something because the person speaking it is accepted to honest. Divine faith, on the other hand, acknowledges something to be true because God is the one to be believed.”

In my case the further I have strayed from service my human faith has faltered in terms of trusting the teacher.  This then is a spiral, the less faith I have in a preacher/church/bible study the less likely I am to attend and the less responsive I will be to the lessons they have to teach.

The second point Father Souza makes is this:

“Faith, as a theological virtue, is something which is infused to persons by God when they enter into His friendship (usually at baptism). Since faith is a virtue, it is something which must be practiced. The best way for us to think of the infused virtue of faith is as acapacity. The baptized person now has the capacity to assent to divinely revealed truths. We can talk about the Deposit of Faith, or collection of divinely revealed truths, later. More important than having the answers to various religious questions, is the choice to assent to what God has spoken.”

The problem then arises that complacency in faith leads to a loss of virtue.  If by not attending service you are already making yourself intrinsically less likely to be receptive and then continuing by not partaking in the Divine Faith, rejection of faith continues to spiral out of control.

The only solution to the problem is in fact taking an initial plunge.  For those who have never been sure, for those who just don’t know and are full of questions the only way to get answers is in fact to ask.  Perhaps it is pride that keeps me away.  A simple desire to look for answers on my own and not ask for help.  Perhaps this pride is what weakens my own Divine Faith.

Regardless of the issue, it would appear that Father Souza is correct.  The only way to get anything out of service is by actively engaging one’s Faith, be it Divine or Human.

‘via Blog this’