Educations, sadly, does not necessarily result in understanding. There are plenty of educated people with off the wall beliefs.

traveler - 30 April 2008 07:28 AM

Mriana,
It’s nice to finally “talk” with you. For me, you are sort of the Simon Cowell around here in the sense that you often say what I’m thinking - but I don’t say it.

  I hope that’s a good thing.

Education seems the answer to everything doesn’t it? Supplanting superstition is very difficult and takes generations. In the mean time what do you do, nothing? I like that Texas (of all places) is encouraging communities to get involved in getting medical attention for children, but what about the “isolationists” as described in the current article? In such cases, the deed is done with very few people around and educational prophylactics are too late. And wrt education, some people don’t take well to education and are convinced everyone else is wrong, period. Just look at the ask a christian thread or the twin towers conspiracy thread. I appreciate that philosophers enjoy such debates, but debating “all-knowing” goats ain’t my cup of tea.

Yes, there are some problems with trying to educate people.  There is invariably a problem with every solution, but we have to try something to keep religious abuses, esp to children, down and even elimenate it.

It’s sad that you have seen cancer so up close and personal. I agree that prayer is a psychological refuge but heck, people can believe whatever they want so long as they do no harm to others. (which includes pushing their superstitions!)

I agree, but what happens to children in the name of religion, even that of that LSD (AKA LDS) group in TX, needs to be stopped.  This is abuse and not the sort that Dawkins talks about.  This goes far and beyond that.

If you aren’t Christ, call a doctor!

Becareful, there is a dude down in Florida (I think that where the cult is) that truly believes he is Jesus Christ. 

Mriana - 30 April 2008 03:24 PM

  I hope that’s a good thing.

I think so, but I spent 4 years in New Orleans and like spicey food. Some people prefer McDonalds.

Yes, there are some problems with trying to educate people.  There is invariably a problem with every solution, but we have to try something to keep religious abuses, esp to children, down and even eliminate it.

Agreed. Still, what would you do today with the couple who let their daughter die? That’s the question.

Becareful, there is a dude down in Florida (I think that where the cult is) that truly believes he is Jesus Christ. 

Oh jeeez. Seriously, that’s a matter of a mental disorder and quite different from the couple who let their child die (some would say killed their child).

traveler - 01 May 2008 06:33 AM

Yes, there are some problems with trying to educate people.  There is invariably a problem with every solution, but we have to try something to keep religious abuses, esp to children, down and even eliminate it.

Agreed. Still, what would you do today with the couple who let their daughter die? That’s the question.

Send them to jail for a few years and let those people deal with them.  They probably won’t want to let another child die again.  Yes, I can be sadistic even though I’m a pacifist and if those convicts see letting a child die right up there with child sexual abuse, well those parents will be miserable during their stay. The only difference is one kills the “soul” and the other kills physically.

Becareful, there is a dude down in Florida (I think that where the cult is) that truly believes he is Jesus Christ. 

Oh jeeez. Seriously, that’s a matter of a mental disorder and quite different from the couple who let their child die (some would say killed their child).

Well given that they could be mentally ill too, there is a possibility they would take that dude’s word for it.  No telling what crazy thing they would believe.

traveler - 01 May 2008 06:33 AM

Oh jeeez. Seriously, that’s a matter of a mental disorder and quite different from the couple who let their child die (some would say killed their child).

No, actually it appears to be yet another excuse to (sexually and otherwise) abuse susceptible women and their children. Why, oh why, does the fact that you are a self styled ‘prophet’ or ‘god’ or reincarnation of ‘Jesus’ give you a pass to convince women that this is justification abuse them and their hapless, helpless children??

As far as the diabetic girl dying of DKA, WHERE were her other family members and neighbors? SOME ONE HAD to see that this poor girl was becoming more and more ill!

You would be surprised how many children I have seen come through the doors of my unit, where the parents have depended upon alternative treatments (including prayer) for their children who have diseases in various stages of curability. They usually come to their senses and bring the child in before they are dead, but sometimes we are unable to cure them, but in that case, they feel that it is okay, because it was ‘Gods will’, rather than their own poor judgment (and I believe that if this happens once, it is still one too many).

I don’t have much faith (ha ha) in education curing this problem, first you have to get past the rationalization of ‘Gods will’ ‘in a better place with Jesus’ etc.

...and last of all, WHY do you need a license and training to drive a 1.5 ton vehicle down the road, but any idiot can create, give birth to, raise, and ruin any number of children?