Popping The God Pill

Menreet Kaur

In the course of our lifetime, we are bound to witness a family member or a close friend fall victim to a vicious disease or a dreadful handicap. The unfortunate amongst us, even receive predicted deadlines of death from doctors. When modern medicine has run its course and death is nothing but an inevitable step away, we still refuse to admit defeat because we know that we’ve still got our trump card in hand: God and his transcendent healing capabilities.

It gives us a sense of hope, trust, comfort and optimism that there is a superior being out there who has a hand in controlling the fate of our loved ones. A recent article in TIME magazine even shows how scientific studies prove that there is a certain truth to faith’s healing properties.

But what happens when this card gets abused?

People would rather start to seek spiritual healers first before professional doctors. Spiritual healers start to take advantage of vulnerable families. Marginalized society members start to throw caution to the wind on medical healthcare.

In my essay, I will explore how religion, specifically "faith healing" when done in negligent circumstances, is impeding on quality healthcare to society. Also, I will look at cases of irresponsible spiritual faith healers who have exploited members of society causing them monetary loss, harm and/or death. I aim to lift the veil off this as I also share with you my personal experience regarding this matter in Singapore.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica defined faith healing as "a form of mind cure characterized by the doctrine that while pain and disease really exist, they may be neutralized or dispelled by faith in Divine power."

Imperative to this discussion is "The Cha Study". This study shows a highly significant effect of prayer on women with chronic infertility. It has sparked massive debate with its inclusion in scientific journals. According to the Commission for Scientific Medicine (2005) and Mental Health and the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine (2004), this has significant impact to how health and medical care policies are made.

Since 2002, 38 states in North America have laws that permit parents to reject medical treatment for their children in favour of faith healing. (Robinson, 2005, para. 3) This is in regard to the Christian Scientists claiming that previous laws were discriminating against their religious expressions. Swan (2000) rejected "religion-related abuse" in children after having her own son die in the hands of Christian Scientist religion. In a study she carried out, she "analyzed the deaths which occurred between 1975 and 1995 of 200 U.S. children, who were associated with eighteen different religious sects that object to medical care. [She] was able to obtain documentation on 172 of these cases sufficient to conclude that medical care was withheld on religious grounds. And of those 172 children, 140 of them would have had a 90 percent or better probability of survival if adequate medical care had been provided in a timely way." (Swan, 2000, p.26)

We all have a curiosity for the mystical. Reverend Peter Popoff preyed on this weakness and snagged himself a US national television show where he performed his healing crusades. According to his accountant, he raked in $4.3 million dollars a month when he was at his peak in 1987. Following an exposé on his deception and trickery, Popoff remained victim to multiple lawsuits. (Randi, 1989) But the terrifying question here is: Then what happened to the sickly that were on the show? They were duped into thinking that they have been cured and the implications could mean that they might have even stopped taking their medication that would have been beneficial to them. There have been many such faith healers who have followed in the footsteps of Popoff, causing the same set of repercussions in society.

My thirty-two year old cousin, who is of Sikh faith, has been trying to have a baby for the past three years. Doctors told her that she has got no chance of conceiving unless a mediated fertility technique was used. Unfortunately, the cost of this medical procedure was too exorbitant for her. Desperate to have a child, she started to seek spiritual healers of various religions who promised results. Some of them were mild, whispering a prayer and rubbing holy water on her belly. Others were more dramatic, wailing and screaming towards the "demonic possessions" that were "within her" and disrupting her from having a child. Nails, glass and fire were some of the tools that were used as part of a ritual. Not only did she suffer incredulous pain, it was also hazardous to her health. All of the faith healers that she approached in Singapore also charged between AUD$50-200 for their services.

For something that could not indefinitely prove itself to work, this was a price that was too much to pay. It has been two years since she approached the faith healers but unfortunately, she still remains barren. Just from this recollection alone, the amount of social justice issues present is immense.

1.Rising healthcare costs that has led to no access of modern medical techniques

2.There is no consent needed from "patients". Faith healers are allowed to practice in whatever way they deem fit and the "patient" humbly follows, regardless of any harm caused.

3.There are no policies or laws that safeguard the individual practice of faith healing.

Taking a leaf out of his book "Man Cures, God Heals", I feel that Kubi very succinctly distinguishes the two terms that we have taken to use interchangeably for granted. He refers to healing as "restoring the equilibrium to the otherwise strained" and curing as "an event that is the work of man". (p.81)

There is more that needs to be done to regulate faith healing around the world. It is pervasive in many cultures and countries, especially amongst the poorer areas. Therefore, there is a pressing need to provide and educate citizens on quality healthcare services so that the rate of neglecting health based on religion remains low.

References:
Flamm, B.L. (2004) Faith Healing Confronts Modern Medicine. The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, 8.1, 9-10.

Flamm, B.L. (2005) Inherent Dangers of Faith-Healing Studies. Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. 8.2, 1-12

Kluger, J. (2009) TIME: The Biology of Belief. Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1879016,00.html

Kubim, A. (1981) Man Cure/God Heals. United States: Allanheld, Osmun & Co. Publishers

Randi, J. (1987) The Faith Healers. New Jersy: Prometheus Books.

Robinson, B.A. (2005) Faith Healing Legal Aspects: Religious Exemption in Child Abuse Laws. Retrieved March 18, 2009 from http://www.religioustolerance.org/medical1.htm

Swan, R. (2000) When faith fails children--religion-based neglect: Pervasive, deadly...and legal?. The Humanist, 6.6, 11-17.