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

[Kynan Shook]

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.