Category: Religion

what I’ve been reading: a few thoughts on Christmas

video content note: Drunken Bible Study, Christmas Edition The Cost of Unbelief via the Economist Oh What Fun - Christmas with Chinese Characteristics via the Economist I think the video dovetails nicely with the afore mentioned Not-So-Virgin Birth of the Christmas Story and Slut Shaming, Sex-Negative Message in the Virgin Birth Story (via http://valerietarico.com/)

The Slut Shaming, Sex-Negative Message in the Virgin Birth—It’s Worth a Family Conversation

I had Sunday School teachers who insisted that Christian Science takes the "inspired" word of the Bible, and that the stories were "allegorical." The virgin birth story (inspired allegory or not) always made me a bit uncomfortable. See also, http://valerietarico.com/2014/12/09/the-not-so-virgin-birth-of-the-christmas-story/ on how Jesus' birth became more virginal and miraculous.

what I’ve been reading: things that make me angry

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CS prays for healing at http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/linda-osmundson-casa-director-and-christian-scientist-prays-for-healing/2206547 Why does God Kill So Many Children in Idaho? at https://www.vocativ.com/culture/religion/faith-healing-deaths/?page=all Birthing Book Linked to Death of Baby at  http://www.theragblog.com/metro-lamar-w-hankins-birthing-book-linked-to-death-of-pursley-baby-in-east-texas-cult/ Religious Freedom vs. Child Protection at http://www.csicop.org/si/show/faith_healing_religious_freedom_vs._child_protection

Psychological Harms of Bible-Believing Christianity

Before you go jumping up and down screaming “that’s not Christian Science” take a step or two back and go re-read my blog and the blogs/books/articles of others who have left. Christian Science qualifies, they just use different language to manipulate.

Valerie Tarico's avatarAwayPoint

depressionBy Marlene Winell and Valerie Tarico

“I am 30 years old and I am struggling to find sanity. Between the Christian schools, homeschooling, the Christian group home (indoctrinating work camp) and different churches in different cities, I am a psychological, emotional and spiritual mess.”   –A former Evangelical

If a former believer says that Christianity made her depressed, obsessive, or post-traumatic, she is likely to be dismissed as an exaggerator. She might describe panic attacks about the rapture; moods that swung from ecstasy about God’s overwhelming love to suicidal self-loathing about repeated sins; or an obsession with sexual purity.

A symptom like one of these clearly has a religious component, yet many people instinctively blame the victim. They will say that the wounded former believer was prone to anxiety or depression or obsession in the first place—that his Christianity somehow got corrupted by his predisposition to psychological problems. Or they will say…

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What I’ve been reading: Faith Healing & Court Scrutiny

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A Judge Makes Critical Decisions In 'Children Act' via NPR (http://www.npr.org/2014/09/06/346299231/a-judge-makes-critical-decisions-in-children-act) Faith-healing comes under court scrutiny via The Freethinker (http://freethinker.co.uk/2014/09/05/faith-healing-comes-under-court-scrutiny/) Tenn. Supreme Court Hears Faith Healing Case via ABCNews (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/tennessee-supreme-court-hear-faith-healing-case-25247427) CHILD's Press Release on the Tennessee Case (http://childrenshealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/TNpressrelease2.pdf) CHILD's Crank amicus brief / Tennessee Case