Supporting the Separation of Church and State
Posts Tagged ‘Christianity’
Madeline Neumann’s Parents Charged
Categorized: Religion
Tagged: Christianity, Fundamentalism, Wacknuttery
Dale and Leilani Neumann, the parents who prayed over their 11 year old daughter while she died from untreated diabetes, will be charged with second-degree reckless homicide. This ends the speculation on how the tragic and easily prevented death would be handled. Second-degree reckless homicide carries a maximum sentence of 25 years though I would expect that even if convicted the sentence will be reduced.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out but I made my feelings clear earlier this month when I stated that these parents are as much responsible for their daughter’s death as the woman who stabbed her “possessed child”. Regardless of the intent, both little girls are dead due to the actions of their parents.
I wrote this morning about the hidden dangers of homeopathy. Faith based healing is another issue that can sound harmless on the surface yet really results in great damage. The death of Madeline Neumann is hardly unique. There are many other children who have died in the recent years due to their parents’ religion.
On March 2nd Ava Worthington, a 15 month old infant, died of an easily treated infection. Her parents have also been charged with manslaughter and criminal mistreatment. Ava and Madeline are only two of the most recent deaths caused by fundamentalist beliefs.
While I would never support any restrictions on freedom of/from religion it is important that we hold those who allow the deaths of children accountable. It is good that Madeline’s parents are facing charges. Hopefully this case will cause others to think twice before they allow their children to die.
William ~ WWJV4.com
Intelligent Design Really Is Being Expelled!
Categorized: Religion
Tagged: Christianity, Evolution, Just For Fun, Satire
Hope you all are having a great weekend. Enjoy this funny video by Edward Current that was added yesterday lampooning creationism and the movie Expelled. Thanks to PZ Meyers for the link.
William Ludwig ~ WWJV4.com
Monique Davis Apologizes
Categorized: Democrats
Tagged: Christianity, Monique Davis, Religious Freedom, Tolerance
Monique Davis has apologized to Rob Sherman a whole week after going off on him while he was speaking before the state senate. Her offensive comments earned her the title of Worst Person in the World on Keith Olberman and has gained the attention of bloggers and news organizations throughout the country.
However while Rob Sherman may have accepted her apology Rep. Davis still has a lot of making up to do. Personally I think its probably too little too late but I don’t live in Chicago. Ultimately it will be up to those she represents to decide if she is the type of Democrat they want in office. At least she isn’t using her bigotry as an opportunity to raise money though.
Rep. Davis still needs to apologize to the great number of people who she offended. Saying that “This is the land of Lincoln where people believe in God” is an attack on everyone who does not adhere to Christianity(1). If Rep. Davis cannot bring herself to do this, or does not feel that it is necessary, then I am certain the people of Chicago can find a better Democrat to represent them.
William
WWJV4.com
1: There is a lot of historical evidence that Lincoln, who never joined a church or defended himself against accusations of being a deist or atheist, wasn’t a Christian. Most likely Lincoln believed in Deism, the belief in a creator that is not personally involved in peoples daily lives. Not really important as I don’t expect Rep. Davis to know this but it’s important to bring up as the fundamentalists keep trying to push the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation.
Mother Kills “Possessed” Daughter
Categorized: Religion
Tagged: Christianity, Fundamentalism
If anyone was wondering why there is so much anger against fundamentalist Christianity here is your answer. An Illinois woman stabbed her 6 year old daughter to death because she believed that her daughter had been possessed by a demon. Next to the child’s body were found an image of Jesus, May and Joseph. According to the story the woman had no problems with drugs or mental illness so no using that as an excuse.
I briefly mentioned a story from last month about a family that prayed while their daughter died of an easily treatable medical condition. There was also another case last month where a 15 month old girl died of an easily treatable condition because her parents did not believe in antibiotics. Thats three preventable and tragic deaths in less than two months directly caused by superstition and a belief in magic. I’m sure there have been more that I don’t know about as well.
As far as I am concerned there is no difference between these deaths. It makes no difference that one family stood by and did nothing while their daughter died or that the mother stabbed her daughter. They are all equally dead and their parents are equally at fault. However the fault does not stop at the parents but also the church’s and preachers that spread the fundamentalist Christianity that caused these tragedies.
Rep. Davis Worst Person in the World
Categorized: Politics
Tagged: Christianity, Monique Davis, Religious Freedom, Tolerance
Rep. Monique Davis, whom I wrote about yesterday, has been named Keith Olberman’s Worst Person in the World. If you remember Rep. Davis said that an atheist had no right to state their beliefs in front of the Illinois government. I honestly expected an apology and retraction by this point, but maybe I had too much faith in her. Anyhow watch it here.
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