Sunday, February 7, 2010

The power of prayer


A wise woman once asked "is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?!?"

I seem to remember reading somewhere that children with religious parents are better behaved and more well adjusted than other children. I remember seeing that somewhere when I was doing research for a blog I was going to write a couple of years ago. If I'm not mistaken, that particular study was done by some sociologist........but don't quote me on it, because I'm wrong often.

The United States of America is supposedly a Christian nation, with a separation of church and state. If you don't believe me, look at your money. There are many different religions represented in this country with Christians making up the bulk of those religions. Within Christianity itself, there are many different denominations; each one with different practices and beliefs on what God's will might be.

Earlier today I was reading a story online about a couple that firmly believed in the power of prayer. They believed in it so much, that rather than have their child treated by a doctor, that instead they relied on the power of prayer. They've been indicted for child abuse, since the coroner found the cause of their child's death to have been neglect for a medically treatable condition.

I'm from the south and I come from a very religious family. My grandmother's favorite two sayings are "pray on it" and "God willing". Do you believe that parents that rely solely on prayer should be arrested when their religious practices conflict with the law of the land?!?

16 comments:

  1. i think a person should be committed if their religious practices or beliefs force them to let a child die when hey could have been saved.

    but... eh *shrugs* what do i know?

    ReplyDelete
  2. If parents want to pray their own sickness away, good for them. But they should not be allowed to withhold medical care for their children. If they do then they should be put in jail.

    Is this really a Christian nation?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well Michelle, I think that when we become parents, certain responsibilities come with that. To a certain respect, our lives are no longer our own and our choices have consequences; they impact the lives of others.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's what they tell me Val; especially when I point out that everyone doesn't pray to the same entity.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I use the phrase, God willing, all the time. Don't recall where I heard it nor have I heard many people use it, but I love it, because it gives respect to God that even though we pray for many things, it's all in His hands. It's like prayers, plans, and plots are man-driven but His plan trumps it all. As I've gotten older, I find peace in this.

    And yes, I pray often, not just for me, but for many, and the world.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have mixed feelings bout this subject. On one hand religious freedom is a basic right. And there are people who firmly believe that God's response to every situation is the appropriate one. Even the end result is the end of a life.

    Without getting into the slippery slope of belief systems there are many people who would accept death as God's will in the matter.

    On the other hand-at what point does a parent recognize that a child needs medical attention? That is really an individual call in my experience.

    My first born grandchild died from a treatable infection. If she had been taken to the doctor for treatment earlier-it is a great possibility that she might still be alive today. Her mother opted not to do so.She seemed to be getting better and she decided not to take her in. But my ways of faith denote that God's will was done in the matter. I fought against having her arrested and charged with neglect because up until that moment she was doing right by her daughter.

    This has always been an area where the seperation of church and state gets blurred.

    ReplyDelete
  7. KIT please do pray for me as well, I need all the prayers that I can get.

    ReplyDelete
  8. MsladyDeborah I'm so very sorry to hear about the loss of your granddaughter. I can only imagine the pain and anguish associated with the loss of a child under circumstances like that.

    I've often wondered why people that "pray away" these ailments don't recognize that it was God's will for doctors and scientists to come up with these cures and treatments. Why does no one ever seem to think about that?!?

    ReplyDelete
  9. I had a brother in a coma who was presumed to be in a vegetative for the rest of his life.
    But I prayed that he'd die that night or get better.
    When he was alive the next morning I tild his friends, my family and the doctors that he would be better.
    After he awoke, I pushed him to learn to walk, get back in shape and then to graduate from college.
    The doctors, my family, his girlfriend all thought I was expecting too much and pushing too hard.
    But he thanks me everyday for being the only one to believe that he could get better.

    IMOHO - It's a mix of faith and action that brings about results.

    ReplyDelete
  10. John I've always thought that it's important that we all believe in something, so maybe you're right.

    John I'm happy to hear that your brother recovered and is thriving.

    The story of your brother being in a coma and overcoming the expectations of those doctors reminds me of a similar story that one of my family members once told me. He and I were arguing about organ donations when he bought up a similar story about a friend of his. The doctors were insistent on removing the organs of someone in his family who was in a coma and not expected to live......and yet that person recovered and as far as I know is still living.

    Fate is inexorable.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My prayers are not for public display,but the results of those prayers I display so everyone can see.The things I often pray for are the wisdom to change the things I can and to leave the things I can't change alone.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The more I seem to know you BigMac, the more like me you seem to be.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes. Parents who put their children in danger, because of their religious beliefs, should be held accountable. Funny. No one has a problem with shaking an accusatory finger at Muslim parents who engage in honor killings. But when someone neglects or harms their children in the name of "Jesus", it's somehow less egregious.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Can you imagine just how many men, women and children have died over the centuries all in the name of Jesus?!?

    That's why I've always remembered that quote from Mohandas Gandhi..."I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think prayer is important but it is only part of a much larger equation. A seed on it's own with no dirt, water or sunlight will not yield you a plant.

    So prayers alone with no outside help & in a time of medical emergency, is almost always never enough.

    When becoming a parent comes enormous responsibilities & it saddens me to think that there are people out there that allow their beliefs/faiths to interfere with life saving treatments.

    My son had a torn esophagus only six weeks ago & had a severe internal bleed... so bad that without a blood transfusion, he would have most certainly died. Some faiths, I think Jehovahs, are one... they disallow transfusion.
    So someone like my son whom is of this faith would in fact be condemned to an unnecessary & very premature death.
    And Yes... I would agree that the parents should be held accountable! After all we are not living in the dark ages!

    ReplyDelete
  16. No we're not living in the dark ages Katherine; but there are people out there who are mentally, and they've doomed their children to something that's totally unnecessary.

    I absolutely believe they should be held accountable.

    ReplyDelete