Question by Old Man from Scene 24: What are your opinions on this Christian/Shamanism/Modern Medicine Fiasco?
This is a story in today’s Anchorage Daily News about a 4-year-old with Leukemia. It’s a long story but worth the read for those with an opinion on modern medicine versus using spiritual means to cure cancer.
http://www.adn.com/newcity/story/606454.html
To me, this shows one of the very real dangers of religious beliefs that teach a disdain for science.
Best answer:
Answer by Cheryl E
Oh great. Another innocent kid is going to die because his parents are f*cktards.
What do you think? Answer below!
Hmmm…well it seems that the mother was more concerned that she couldn’t afford to pay for medical treatment. When she did take her son to the hospital and she was told he would have to go to Seattle for proper treatment, she also became concerned about who would care for her other children while they were gone.
She did not choose Shamanism over modern medicine and the story is *much* more complex than that.
“To me, this shows one of the very real dangers of religious beliefs that teach a disdain for science.”
I respectfully disagree. To me, this story illustrates the very real dangers of being poor, overwhelmed, under-educated and living in a country that does not have universal health care.
Well, in general, why do people prefer to believe in spiritual means (non-science, even anti-science) over modern scientific medicine?
To this individual (and his many, many fellow citizens), the scientific viewpoint is very limiting. He [generic he] does not understand it’s underlying principles well, and perceives it as many smart people telling him he will just have to accept what they tell him; that there are limits, a lot of limits. And those are limits on his hopes, his optimism. (His optimism about avoiding danger, pain, a final ending in death.)
Religion offers him the idea that HE can have a superior idea, one that he can grasp. That puts the narrow minded scientists beneath him, instead of over him. Also, he gets to hope for almost everything. He doesn’t have to accept limits imposed by those he resents.
None of what I’ve written is actually true, of course, but it is an attractive, easily digested way of looking at the world for many.