SMA and religion. On topic.

[Guest guest]

Has anyone here been told by Christians that it's the parents fault for

not praying enough that causes the child's disease? Or family's

previous sin? or that if you only joined their church, you will be

healed?

If any of you on the listserv have ever experienced this, what did you

say? How did you handle it?

One nurse told me it's our Jewish blood that caused my unknown

neuromuscular disease, as the Jewish part of my family for centuries has

committed the mortal sin of denying Christ (from the Bible passage " the

sins of the fathers... " ).

I remember as a little child, crying and crying because someone told us

it was mom and dad's fault I had disease because they were not praying

enough.

This kind of Christianity is very abusive, and turns people firmly

against religion. Just as when Pat on says God was smiting New

York City because of homosexuality on 9/11 or smiting Ariel Sharon

because he gave land for peace, that turns people firmly against religion.

In my opinion, the coolest thing about Christianity is the sermon on the

mount and how Jesus views each individual as being of supreme value, so

he spends his time with those no one else values: the sick, the blind,

lepers, prostitutes, etc. Because he knows their value. More Christians

should be like that, showing love to the downtrodden. Very few

Christians are spending their time in this way. Except I've got to give

kudos to Holly's idol, Joni Tada, who gives wheelchairs and other

adaptive devices to disadvantaged people overseas. Of those I know

personally who imitate Jesus' works with the poor, all are Catholics,

like Catholic Social Services, who directly feed and clothe people and

help them pay their bills, or college kids who give up an upper-class

life to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps that teach and aid impoverished

communities in the U.S. and elsewhere, or the priests who do all this

and more, including protesting for social justice.

God is love. Not hate.

Nick