Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

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_Jason Bourne
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _Jason Bourne »

Basically you are suggesting that placing faith in God is stupid.


You are twisting my words. Faith is not stupid. Irrational faith can be.



Or that these people are stupid to trust God more than doctors.


Modern conveniences exist to help and bless us. It is like he story/joke of the man in a flood that prays for God to save him. A number of people come to take him away by car, boat, helicopter. He declines all believing God will save him. He drowns. When he faves God he asks why God did not honor his faith. God says "Hey, I sent you a car before the water came, a boat when it was at your porch and a helicopter when it was at your roof. What more do you want."

These people believe God is more powerful than doctors (see Cacheman's Friend story above), and have FAITH in God's ability to heal.


One can believe God is more powerful than anything but still be rational about how they apply faith. If one believes that God will heal a critically ill child and thus refuses medicine for the child then do they apply the same criteria for all their life? Do they sit and wait for God to put food on the table every morning? If someone lives their whole life that way then perhaps your point is valid. If not then they are being selectively faithful and thus irrationally stupid.

No, they are not stupid, they have faith.


No they are stupid and irrational.

Unless you think having faith in God is stupid.


You are setting up a straw man. But sure, faith at this level is stupid.

For the record I don't think these types of people are stupid just seriously mislead and deceived by religion and religious leaders.


Oh of course. It is all the fault of religion. religious people cannot think or use their minds right? So some idiots take religion to far so it is the fault of religion, or the Bible or Jesus.


Well then you must believe Atheism is at fault for the holocaust because Hitler was an atheist.

Of course it is rare to see parents letting their children die due to their faith, having this sort of faith is rare, no question about it. But perhaps less so than you know.


What do you mean less so than I know.

I had an LDS neighbor whose two year old child died because they believed the power of the priesthood would save him, when a simple trip to the doc would easily have allowed him to live. Even after he was dead in their arms they believed the priesthood power could raise him up.


And they were idiots and should be prosucuted for neglecting their child.

Of course you don't hear about these incidents in F&T meeting. What you hear is that it was their time to go and God needed this child on the other side, and if God wanted him to live he would have lived, etc. etc. etc.


Or you hear that someone had a blessing and also used medical procedures, sort of like, well I did when I was seriously ill.
My point is, FAITH is what creates these very cruel and horrific things, not stupidity.


So does non belief then. It is not faith it is the idiotic application of it by people who are stupid. If you really believe this you have to apply it to all sorts of viewpoints not just faith.

If life is really about gaining faith and trust in God, along with obedience, the more faith the better. Demonstrating FAITH in God seems to me to be the ultimate way to pass the test. Again, think Abraham. :cry:


Hardly.
_harmony
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _harmony »

I believe in the old saying: Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

If one has faith that God is the source of all good, then one has faith that medical advances are the result of blessings from heaven, and that to not avail oneself of the medical advances that God has blessed us with is tantamount to turning one's back on God, or if one is still facing him, spitting in his face.

So no... the parents of that dead child did not have faith. They turned their backs on God and the blessings he has given to all mankind due to the medical advances of this age (he could also claim computers and the internet, but I'm not sure God wants to go that far). And the missionaries did not have faith; they turned their back on their responsibility to render service when all they offered was a blessing (and no, I don't believe that story for an instant) and didn't call an ambulance or get them to medical help.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
_truth dancer
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _truth dancer »

Hi Jason,

You are twisting my words. Faith is not stupid. Irrational faith can be.


No Jason, you think these folks have irrational faith only because you don't agree with their faith.

I'm pretty sure they believe you just don't have enough faith or you would behave similarly. Lots of people do things they otherwise wouldn't due to their faith and belief.

You put trust in medicine over faith in God, these folks put faith in God over medicine.

I don't know about you but my years in the LDS church were filled with examples of faith healing, how faith can move mountains, how with faith in God, all things are possible, how faith is the reason for miracles, how faith is tested, etc. etc. etc. (These ideas are not exclusive to the LDS church of course, I am just relating my experience).

I'm not saying I was ever taught to not use medicine but clearly there are those who believe having faith in God Trump's trusting doctors and medicine. The scriptures are filled with examples of those demonstrating faith allowing for miracles to occur.

The point is, you think they are stupid only because you don't believe in their level of faith.

To me, it just points out how humans can behave due to their beliefs, and how powerful beliefs can be. Again, it is not about stupidity it is about the strength of belief and how True Belief can effect behavior.

~td~
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
_truth dancer
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _truth dancer »

Yeah but Harmony, these people didn't see it this way, they truly believed they were acting with faith and demonstrating to God their trust. (I know my neighbors saw it this way to the point they didn't have medical insurance).

As a believer I believed God wanted us to take advantage of the "miracles" of modern medicine too but others believe true faith means you don't.

I'm not suggesting this is a religious matter more than it is a "belief" matter. Seems to me people do all sorts of things when they truly believe it is of God, (or right).

To me, it is more about how the mind works and how people can justify anything if they believe they are right.




harmony wrote:I believe in the old saying: Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

If one has faith that God is the source of all good, then one has faith that medical advances are the result of blessings from heaven, and that to not avail oneself of the medical advances that God has blessed us with is tantamount to turning one's back on God, or if one is still facing him, spitting in his face.

So no... the parents of that dead child did not have faith. They turned their backs on God and the blessings he has given to all mankind due to the medical advances of this age (he could also claim computers and the internet, but I'm not sure God wants to go that far). And the missionaries did not have faith; they turned their back on their responsibility to render service when all they offered was a blessing (and no, I don't believe that story for an instant) and didn't call an ambulance or get them to medical help.
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
_Jason Bourne
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _Jason Bourne »

You are twisting my words. Faith is not stupid. Irrational faith can be.


No Jason, you think these folks have irrational faith only because you don't agree with their faith.


No TD. There is faith and there is stupidity just like there is so called critical thinking and ethical analysis that can run amok. I notice you are ignoring this point in your effort Old Testament make faith appear destructive.

I'm pretty sure they believe you just don't have enough faith or you would behave similarly. Lots of people do things they otherwise wouldn't due to their faith and belief.


Lots of people are and can be stupid.

You put trust in medicine over faith in God, these folks put faith in God over medicine.



Oh come on. This is unfair. When I will seriously ill with cancer I prayed, had my name put on the prayer roles at temples and other churches, had a blessing and then sought top notch medical help as well. I also used some nutritional supplements and a meditation program from a book I friend gave me. You are stepping over the line to say I do not put my faith in God because I think people who do what these people did are stupid.

I don't know about you but my years in the LDS church were filled with examples of faith healing, how faith can move mountains, how with faith in God, all things are possible, how faith is the reason for miracles, how faith is tested, etc. etc. etc. (These ideas are not exclusive to the LDS church of course, I am just relating my experience).



Right. And how many eschewed medical help to and only did this in ALL your years.

I'm not saying I was ever taught to not use medicine but clearly there are those who believe having faith in God Trump's trusting doctors and medicine.


Clearly. And clearly they are stupid.
The scriptures are filled with examples of those demonstrating faith allowing for miracles to occur.


One can have faith in miracles and still have faith. I believe my cure was miracle. God, modern science that God has blessed the world with all played a part.
The point is, you think they are stupid only because you don't believe in their level of faith.


Nope.

To me, it just points out how humans can behave due to their beliefs, and how powerful beliefs can be. Again, it is not about stupidity it is about the strength of belief and how True Belief can effect behavior


Then you concede that non belief can lead to destructive behavior as well and think such outcomes are not the results of stupidity right?
_solomarineris
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _solomarineris »

Jason Bourne wrote:
Jayce,
I swear, you are the most smart guy who believes this whole scheme.
Your logic is impeccable until it comes to this silly stories.
How can you digest this stuff?


I realize they are stories that may or may not be based in factual history. I have faith and hope in God because I enjoy religion and what of the positive things it brings into my life.


Jayson,
I'm probably much older than you.
In turn you are a lot smarter than me. (I'm not being sarcastic). And you have a great heart.
You have faith in God & Religion because of the positive elements they bring to your life.
Try this for few days
#1) Jason is the best thing ever happened to this Planet
#2 Jason won "The Genetic Lottery of Universe"; 55 trillion atoms united to create him
#3) Jason can decide for himself, he does need absolutely no guidance from anybody, he doesn't have to pray to an entity for his well being.
#4) Jason is compassionate, caring, loving, does not want to screw his neighbor's hot wife,
not because of the commandments given to him but his conscience naturally steers him away from bad decisions
#5) Jason loves his family, humanity not bcause it was commanded him to do so, he had this instinct inherently.
_truth dancer
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _truth dancer »

Hi Jason,

You are missing my point. Probably my inability to make it. :wink:

My point being... the only reason you think their faith is stupid is because you don't embrace their beliefs.

To these believers they are not stupid but the truly faithful. Those who believe differently are not as faithful.

If you were raised in a family that indoctrinated you to believe as do they, you would also believe in their type of faith. It is not about stupidity but about belief, or faith.

I'm not suggesting YOU don't have faith, I'm saying from the perspective of those who have faith in God over medicine, THEY probably believe you do not have the same strength in faith as do they.

Again, you suggest these people are stupid but their heart felt beliefs tell them they are right.

Compare it to the FLDS.. they truly believe THEY are the ones who are following God, when we find it horrific to think of grown married men screwing young girls. Are they all stupid? No, they are true believers and their beliefs have overshadowed what is considered normal behavior in our civilized world.

I'm saying that true believers are not stupid, they just believe so strongly, that their beliefs endanger others including themselves. In other words, people do all sorts of horrific things when they believe they are following God or aligned with ultimate truth.

Of course I find the actions of these parents horrific... no question about it, but I don't chalk it up to stupidity, I blame their belief which in my opinion, has distorted normal/decent/appropriate/healthy behavior.

~td~
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
_solomarineris
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _solomarineris »

Calculus Crusader wrote:
solomarineris wrote:
Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital
Because he was an arrogant, ignorant jerk, that's why.
Granted no one knew medicine then, he made things up, created demons to fit his delusional Father-Son relationship.
That's nothing compared to his sending pigs, beset by demons, over the cliff.
Way to go Jesus.


No, stupid, Jesus did not send anyone to a doctor or a hospital because ancient doctors were not known for their efficacy and ancient hospitals were virtually nonexistent. Besides which, Jesus' healing was sufficient.

Incidentally, I recommend you see a head doctor.


Calculus Crusader,
What a wise and touching advice;
I recommend you see a head doctor.
Incidentally I run a medical practice (I'm not the physician).
But I can see a doctor right now, she is taking a bath now.
Afterwards I will ask her what's wrong with me.
Not to brag about; even the Presidents don't have better coverage than me.
Thanks for your advice.
_Jason Bourne
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _Jason Bourne »


Jayson,
I'm probably much older than you.
In turn you are a lot smarter than me.


I will be 50 this year. I don't feel old but it sure sounds old to me. :mrgreen:


I really am not that smart and there are a few here who would tell you that I am sure.
(I'm not being sarcastic). And you have a great heart.


Thanks


You have faith in God & Religion because of the positive elements they bring to your life.
Try this for few days
#1) Jason is the best thing ever happened to this Planet


Ha haaaa! I am not sure I have it in me to say that. How about Jason is a pretty good guy and the world is better off for having him part of it.


#2 Jason won "The Genetic Lottery of Universe"; 55 trillion atoms united to create him
#3) Jason can decide for himself, he does need absolutely no guidance from anybody, he doesn't have to pray to an entity for his well being.


Well, I feel like I am living my life that way for the most part these days. And I have actually consciously decided I want to pray and meditate and do so by including a higher being as part of that activity. I do it now not because I have to but because I like too.


#4) Jason is compassionate, caring, loving, does not want to screw his neighbor's hot wife,
not because of the commandments given to him but his conscience naturally steers him away from bad decisions


A few years ago I was meeting with a wonderful professional counselor for a number of reasons. I shared a lot with him about my religion and my evolving beliefs. My wife was very concerned about that. She seemed to fear if I gave up Mormonism I might become a wild party hound, drinking and chasing women and so on. He assured her that the good values that I have would stay with me. He really was correct. And while I may not be the TBM type in my heart any more I have no desire to suddenly become a narcissist hedonist. I do like doing moral things just because it is right.


#5) Jason loves his family, humanity not bcause it was commanded him to do so, he had this instinct inherently.


Honestly I think I have always loved my family and fellow humans just because I have.
_Jason Bourne
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Re: Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital

Post by _Jason Bourne »

You are missing my point. Probably my inability to make it. :wink:


No I totally understand it and disagree. You want to plead that these people think they are really being tremendously faithful and that this faithfulness is based on religous teachings that can be bad and hurtful.
My point being... the only reason you think their faith is stupid is because you don't embrace their beliefs.


No. It is because I believe, and I believe I am correct, that even with faith one needs to use the mind God gave them. These people seem to have checked their brain at the door.

To these believers they are not stupid but the truly faithful. Those who believe differently are not as faithful.


It does not matter whether they believe they are stupid or not. Their actions are irrational and their so called faith had become a handicap in their life.

One thing I always liked about McConkie is he counseled not to be too extreme either way in one's beliefs. Don't be so conservative in your faith or it could lead to the results we see that is the topic of this thread. Don't be too liberal because you might lose your faith entirely. Stay in the middle of the road.

If you were raised in a family that indoctrinated you to believe as do they, you would also believe in their type of faith.


Perhaps one indoctrinated from birth can plead this. Not someone who becomes this way as an adult. And even the indoctrinated can choose as they mature.

It is not about stupidity but about belief, or faith.


No it is about stupidly irrational about one's faith.

I'm not suggesting YOU don't have faith, I'm saying from the perspective of those who have faith in God over medicine, THEY probably believe you do not have the same strength in faith as do they.


It does not matter to me what they believe. People believe all sorts of things that result it stupid choices. These people are stupid about their so called faith.

Again, you suggest these people are stupid but their heart felt beliefs tell them they are right.
Compare it to the FLDS.. they truly believe THEY are the ones who are following God, when we find it horrific to think of grown married men screwing young girls. Are they all stupid?


Yes some of them are stupid. But like I said, I can give a pass more to one brought up from their youth in such a system.

No, they are true believers and their beliefs have overshadowed what is considered normal behavior in our civilized world.


If true belief results is this type of behavior then they are becoming stupid.
I'm saying that true believers are not stupid, they just believe so strongly, that their beliefs endanger others including themselves. In other words, people do all sorts of horrific things when they believe they are following God or aligned with ultimate truth.


People do all sorts of horrific things whether they follow God or not. You seem to want to pin this all on God. I pin it on people irrationally trying to follow God. I still will note for about the third time that if you take this position about believers you must apply the same formula for non believers.

In other word, non believers are not stupid when they do horrific things. They just do them because they have cast off the moral constraints that often a belief in God and Judeo Christian principles seem to offer the more often than not barbaric behavior humans are capable of. Were they not so irrational in their unbelief they would not do such horrific things.

Of course I find the actions of these parents horrific... no question about it, but I don't chalk it up to stupidity, I blame their belief which in my opinion, has distorted normal/decent/appropriate/healthy behavior.


People have brains. If their religious beliefs end up in horrific results then they have become stupid about these beliefs. They choose whether or not the position they take is reasonable.

Can religion create circumstances for people to take their faith to far? Sure. Can other belief systems and philosophies do the same? You bet. But ultimately it is the persons choice.
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