FinalProjectAlexandraSloan.pdf

FAITH HEALING MODERN HERESY

Alexandra Sloan

REL 374 Final Project

Religion Overthrowing Heresy and Hatred, by Pierre Legros the Younger (16951699). Marble, H. 3 m (9 ft. 10 in.). Church of the Ges, Rome, Italy.

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Gray, Martin. "Lourdes." Sacred Sites. 2014. Web. 7 May 2015. http://sacredsites.com/europe/france/lourdes.html

Faith Healing. Faith Healing. 17 Jan 2013. Web. 7 May 2015 http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/faith-healing

"Path To Faith." - Frequently Asked Questions. 2013. Web. 5 May 2015. http://pathtofaith.com/faq.php

What is Faith Healing? Faith healing is the belief that there are people or places that have the ability to cure

or to heal injuries or illnesses. Practitioners and beneficiaries believe the healing

comes from a higher power. Faith healing works through prayers and strong belief,

and often entail visiting shrines and places of power, or channeling through a special

individual.

Faith healing can be done remotely

or in person; for example, one of the

most popular places for people to

visit is Lourdes, France where a

spring there is said to be capable of

healing, while tent revivals and long

distance prayer remain popular.

The belief that faith healing helps

them, as well as those who appeal to

saints for assistance, is strongly tied

to a believers identity.

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Who Practices

Faith Healing?

There are many religions who practice

faith healing:

Catholicism believes in Miracles which are unexplainable healings

Pentecostals believe in laying on hands which is faith based healing

Voodoo believers believe in faith based healing.

Amish often use prayer instead of medicine for healing as well.

Burgess, Stanley M.; McGee, Gary B.; Alexander, Patrick H., eds. (1988). Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Scott, Clarissa. "Health and Healing Practices." National Institute of Health, 1 Nov. 1974. Web. 4 May 2015. .

Robinson, B.A. "Faith Healing." Religious Groups That Reject Medical Treatment in Favor of Prayer. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 14 Jan. 1994. Web.

7 May 2015. .

Lee, Russell. Healing Laying on of Hands Ceremony. Digital image. Farm Securities Administration, n.d. Web.

.

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Heresy is a belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine. It is also

an opinion that deviates from the accepted norm of the society. Often Heresy

is referenced in relation to religion, such as how witchcraft was considered

heretical in the 1500s and 1600s, although it can mean any belief or opinion.

Crowley, Robert. The Order and Maner of the Burning of Anne Askew, Iohn Lacels, Iohn Adams, Nicholas Belenian, with Certayne of the Councell Sitting

in Smithfield. 1548. Woodcut. N.p. & Deane, Jennifer Kolpacoff, ed.

History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 17 March

2015.

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In the 1500's and 1600's,

women were shamed and

punished for the suspicion of

practicing witchcraft, while

faith healing was a very

important part of the religious

doctrines of the time.

Those who belonged to the

Church, or followed their

doctrines, made this belief a

strong part of their identity.

Those who practice faith

healing today also believe it is a

fundamental part of who they

are.

Deane, Jennifer Kolpacoff, ed. History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011. ProQuest

ebrary. Web. 17 March 2015.

"Path To Faith." image of lay on hands, 2013. Web. 5 May 2015. http://pathtofaith.com/

Sottile, Leah. "Idahos Faith-healing Debate Pits Child Welfare against Parental Rights | Al Jazeera America." Faith Healing a Parental Right in Idaho. Al Jazeera America, 22 Feb. 2015. Web. 5 May 2015. .,

Faith Healing event, circa 2013

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In modern society the idea that

faith and prayer will heal you is no

longer the common thought.

Medicine and science have become

the norm, and what is primarily

accepted.

Those who practice faith healing

are often punished for their choices,

as there are child endangerment

laws that make it a crime to

endanger the health, or life, of a

child. This has led to the idea of

faith healing as being heretical.

"Child Endagerment Law | Being Charged or Prosecuting for Child Endangerment | Criminal Law." CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. Criminal Defense

Lawyers, 2015. Web. 04 May 2015. .

Lawless, Val. Doctor Measuring Pulse. Digital image. StockVault. N.p., 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 07 May 2015. .


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An adult's indifference or refusal to accept life saving care can be seen as child endangerment. In

this sense faith healing is heretical even though it is part of the parent's identity. There are cases

in various states that take both sides of the issue - in Idaho if a child dies because of a parent's

belief in faith healing prevents them from getting medical care the parents cannot be charged,

although this has sparked debate on whether or not it's child endangerment to deny them life

saving medical care. In other states, such as Pennsylvania, if a parent refuses medical care for a

child because they would rather pray, and the child dies they can be charged with murder or other

charges stemming from child endangerment.

"Child Endagerment Law | Being Charged or Prosecuting for Child Endangerment | Criminal Law." CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. Criminal Defense Lawyers,

2015. Web. 04 May 2015. .

Blumberg, Antonia. "Catherine And Herbert Schaible, Pennsylvania Pentecostal Couple, Sentenced For Neglecting To Take Sick Son To Doctor."The Huffington

Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 May 2015. .

Hodan, George Praying Hands. 2009. Public Domain Pictures Web. 4 May 2015. .


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Blumberg, Antonia. "Catherine And Herbert Schaible, Pennsylvania Pentecostal Couple, Sentenced For Neglecting To Take Sick Son To Doctor."The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 May 2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/19/catherine-herbert-schaible-

sentence_n_4818659.html.

Deane, Jennifer Kolpacoff, ed. History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011.

ProQuest ebrary. Web. 17 March 2015

Martin, Montgomery. An Elderly Pair of Hands Holding a Cross. 2009. Alamy. Web. 4 May 2015. .


Faith healing challenges the

norms of society, it is a

resurgence of thoughts of the

1500's, and has become a hot

button issue within the United

States. It fits the definition of

heretical behavior, and those who

practice it are often shamed in

public, or private for their beliefs.

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In conclusion faith healing is part of some religions beliefs, so much so that they are

well known for it; Pentecostals are often mentioned in connection to faith healing, as

well as Amish who shun modern technology. Its part of their very identity, much like those who were accused of witchcraft had it tied to their identity. Today faith healing

isnt seen as normal. Normally one takes a sick child, or person, to the doctors, not to church. Faith healers are often ridiculed in public or brought to courts because of

child endangerment laws, much like witches were tried and ridiculed before their

peers. Faith healing is simply a differing belief than the norm, which makes it

heretical behavior. While the punishments are not as harsh, or fatal, as those that

witches faced, they are still life changing and can have long lasting effects, such as life

in prison.

"American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

.

Blumberg, Antonia. "Catherine And Herbert Schaible, Pennsylvania Pentecostal Couple, Sentenced For Neglecting To Take Sick Son To Doctor."The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 May 2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/19/catherine-herbert-schaible-

sentence_n_4818659.html.

Deane, Jennifer Kolpacoff, ed. History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011.

ProQuest ebrary. Web. 17 March 2015


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American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. .

Blumberg, Antonia. "Catherine And Herbert Schaible, Pennsylvania Pentecostal Couple, Sentenced For Neglecting To Take Sick Son To Doctor." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 May 2015. .

Burgess, Stanley M.; McGee, Gary B.; Alexander, Patrick H., eds. (1988). Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. (Academic)

"Child Endagerment Law | Being Charged or Prosecuting for Child Endangerment | Criminal Law." CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2015. Web. 04 May 2015. .

Deane, Jennifer Kolpacoff, ed. History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 17 March 2015 (Academic)

Faith Healing. Faith Healing. 17 Jan 2013. Web. 7 May 2015 http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/faith-healing


History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Blue Ridge Summit, PA, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 17 March 2015. (Academic)

Path To Faith." - Frequently Asked Questions. 2013. Web. 5 May 2015. http://pathtofaith.com/faq.php

Robinson, B.A. "Faith Healing." Religious Groups That Reject Medical Treatment in Favor of Prayer. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 14 Jan. 1994. Web. 7 May 2015. .

Scott, Clarissa. "Health and Healing Practices." National Institute of Health, 1 Nov. 1974. Web. 4 May 2015.

Sottile, Leah. "Idahos Faith-healing Debate Pits Child Welfare against Parental Rights | Al Jazeera America." Faith Healing a Parental Right in Idaho. Al Jazeera America, 22 Feb. 2015. Web. 5 May 2015. .

Bibliography: Text, Idea & Academic Sources

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Crowley, Robert. The Order and Maner of the Burning of Anne Askew, Iohn Lacels, Iohn Adams, Nicholas Belenian, with Certayne of the Councell Sitting in Smithfield. 1548. Woodcut. N.p.


Hodan, George Praying Hands. 2009. Public Domain Pictures Web. 4 May 2015. .

Lawless, Val. Doctor Measuring Pulse. Digital image. StockVault. N.p., 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 07 May 2015. .

Legros, Pierre. Religion Overthrowing Heresy and Hatred. 1695-1699. Marble Statue.

Lee, Russell. Healing Laying on of Hands Ceremony. Digital image. Farm Securities Administration, n.d. Web.

.

Martin, Montgomery. An Elderly Pair of Hands Holding a Cross. 2009.Alamy. Web. 4 May 2015. .

"Path To Faith." image of lay on hands, 2013. Web. 5 May 2015. http://pathtofaith.com/

Bibliography: Image Sources

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FinalProjectAlexandraSloan.pdf