How far is too far when making choices based upon your beliefs?

Question

I ask this in all seriousness. I am not flaming anyone in this post, nor is it my intent to upset anyone (This time).

I would like to know your opinion on choices people make because of their faith.

I will give an example of what I am talking about.

A father and mother had a child who was very sick. I am not sure what religion they were, but their faith stopped them from taking this poor child to a doctor. Instead, they claimed that God loved them and would take care of their little girl. Needless to say, the girl died sometime later, I am not sure how long it took, but it was a while.

The parents were arrested for negligent homicide and they argued in court that they could not be prosecuted because they were following their religious beliefs.

An autopsy showed that the girl could have been saved had she seen a doctor, and that was the last I heard of it, never found out if they went to prison or not. Anyhow, do you think that faith allows for this kind of behavior and

if so, do you think it is right? Do you think that people should be able to harm someone in that fashion because of their religious beliefs?

That little girl did not have a say in what happened to her. She did not have a choice to believe in god, or that god would save her, her parents made that choice for her, much like most children who participate in religion today.

How far is too far in your opinion?

I'm not asking this in order to point fingers, I want an honest, educated answer to whether or not faith allows for this kind of thing to happen, and if so, how it is allowed to continue...

Gwhiz,

I did indeed as for your opinion, and you gave it, thank you. However, I find your answer to be absolutely astonishing, and not in the good way. Here's why.

What you are saying is that her life meant nothing at all, in fact, no childs life means anything at all, because the parents should have the right to decide if that child lives or dies? I don't understand that mentality.

Children, by nature, do not have the ability to make critical choices, such as whether or not they can go to a doctor or whether or not they believe in God. As a parent, my number one responsibility in life is to maintain the health and happiness of my daughter. I do not have the right to say "Let her die", she is a human being just like me and has every right as such to a full life of happiness, or at least as best as she can do.

How is it the parents right to decide on the life of this child? How is it in your opinion that these people were not crazy and she should have been yanked from them

Answer 1

Our government has taken religion too far. Look at Bush in his Christianity making decisions for the whole country based on his own religion.

This country is weighing too much on religion and maybe it's because those of us who are tired of it have quit voting and being part of it. If there were only enough of us non-religious and practical thinkers voting and fighting for more. We are crazy because we don't "meet with the minds" and agree with them...yet they are ruining society.

Should we not base anything on religion and just a human way of thinking...yes, but too many personal voids are being filled by religion.

I wish it wasn't this way, but it is. We live a life based on the majority religions and it's crap.

Answer 2

Do you have faith in the Big Bang? You didn't see it happen and it hasn't been proven.

Every human on the planet has a religion of some sort, even Atheism is a religion.

We all make choices.

Some people believe (and it's still taught in most schools) in the long disproven idea of embriology where the embryo of a fetus has gill slits of fish. This is false but some use it as an excuse to have abortions.

34% of babies born after 5 months in the womb will live.

Answer 3

It is the Christian Science belief. My husband was raised under that belief and his mother died in his arms because of her beliefs when he was 18. She begged him not to call an ambulance and she died as a result of strep throat. No, I don't believe it is right. I don't think the parents should have been prosequeted but I don't understand wht people can let their faith take over like that. But look at the Jim Jones case where all those people took poison and died in a commune because of their beliefs. Religion is a dedication to something people believe in. Everyone wants to believe in something right or wrong. They are often gullible to such ways of life. It is really sad that people are so neive at times and follow the wrong paths of belief and sich things happen like that. But they also believe that she died for a reason. They believe she was perfect and God took her home because her life on earth was done.
Thankfully my husband believes in doctors and goes to one regularily. It took him breaking his arm and having to go to a doctor to change his belief. But I don't have to worry about watching him die and not getting him some help.

Answer 4

Considering that the Bible says that GOD gave us the plants of the earth for the healing of the nations. Then their religion has gone to far in forbidding any type of physical treatment.
The Religion needs to rethink its views in this light.
The first medicines were made from Plants as GOD decreed.

Answer 5

no faith does not allow this kind of behavior.
i think that if thier faith doesn't allow them to go to a doctor or save a life when they can is the wrong one! i think that this religion is not a religion from god (christianity, islam, jewdisim) but a man made religion, like the ppl that worship the sun, cows, fire......etc
god (the creator) is mercyful with his creations, and wouldn't forbid going to a doc. that's insane!

Answer 6

You want honest, you got it,be it right or wrong parents should have the say in the care of there children,no one should have any say over a child you brought here.That being said Perhaps it was better the child leave here than be raised by fanatics,I also believe death is a preset.How many people try suicide over and over yet only hurt themselves severely? i remember a plane crash some years ago where only one survived, it was not her time to go.

Answer 7

pretty deep question so late at night - but a good one.

the question of choices and belief is similar to the question of chicken vs egg. which one came first?

do we have beliefs that inspire us to make certain choices? or do the choices we make in life inspire us to have certain beliefs.

oh - the parents? very wrong in my opinion but i am not here to judge.

personally, the choices and discoveries in life that i have made has been my inspiration to take my spirituality and belief system to a strong and serious level. a continual journey of growth, learning, dreaming and achieving peace, love and light throughout the universe. )O(

Answer 8

i'd charge the kids parents with murder. if a rabbi ever told me i was not allowed to get medical treatment (not that they would, since in our religion we are required to take any possible action including breaking religious laws to save a life) i'd tell him where to go.

Answer 9

Fanaticism ....its the honest reason for me being Agnostic.
Because I believe : I can deal with reality.

Answer 10

I didn't even have to read all of it to know that what they did is wrong, that is going to far to let your child die.