A Partial Win
In the case that the media called the ‘Christian candy cane‘ case, the Supreme Court tossed the whole thing out on it’s ear. The Texas case was championed by conservative Christians and their bedfellows from the Liberty Institute law firm.
Nine dusty years ago in Plano Independent School District, the case of Morgan v. Swanson began. The principals at schools in Plano kept self-proclaimed evangelical students from proselytizing and passing out religious information to other students on campus. Specifically, principal Lynn Swanson stopped a third grade student from passing out candy cane shaped pens with notes attached that said in part: “So, every time you see a candy cane, remember the message of the candy maker: Jesus is the Christ!”
There are other examples of students selling religion to their compatriots. Thankfully, the principals involved knew that not every student is evangelical or at least that the school would be on the losing side of a lawsuit if they did nothing. Of course as one door closes, another opens… And, what better way to make a few bucks than by rallying the troops and letting Hiram Sasser from the Liberty Institute represent the poor, oppressed Christians…
Luckily, the Supreme court saw the wisdom found in the brief from the New Orleans 5th Circuit Court of Appeals which heard this case last. The 5th Circuit decision protected the principals when they stopped the distrobution of the candy and flyers that were being passed out. The 5th Circuit also left a gaping hole for future cases when restrictions on student speech could be concidered unconstitutional.
For now, the good guys have won. Let’s hope we can quickly patch the dam without many casualties.
2.5 Years
I talked about Alexander Aan from Sumatra back in January. You might recall his crimes of saying “There is no god” on his facebook group and posting a web comic about Mohamed. After the angry mob beat the shit out of him, he has been sitting in jail waiting for his trial.
The wait is over. He was convicted under the Electronic Information and Transactions law and sentenced to 30 months total in jail with credit for the six months already served. In the most Muslim country in the world, according to reports, there were quite a few calls for Alexander to lose his head. For all of the crazy that has shown itself since I wrote about him, I’m rather surprised it’s not a life sentence. It might still be a life sentence in their jail though.
Missionary Doc
Over in England, Dr Richard Scott, a former Christian missionary doctor, gave some very non-medical advice to a suicidal patient of his back in august 2010. Scott told the troubled person “The devil haunts people who do not turn to Jesus” which distressed the patient even more.
In a formal medical hearing of the General Medical Council (GMC) that just ended, Scott was found guilty and given an official warning. It’s essentially a slap on the wrist, but any claim that asserts something without evidence needs to be challenged.
Scott seems to have taken a conspiracy theory approach to it all saying the medical panel made up their minds before the trial. He even took it one step further saying that the panel is discriminating against him because of his beliefs saying:
The panel has chosen to believe a patient with massive and multiple problems against a doctor of 28 years’ standing, embedded in his local community with hundreds of testimonials from other patients of his.
Whether it was reiki, acupuncture or even Islam, that particular doctor would not be in our position now. I think they are discriminating against Christians.
I am both angry and disappointed in my professional body.
Somehow, I don’t think a doctor of 28 years would get an official warning like this without at least a couple unofficial warnings. I could be wrong though. Anyone know more about this story?
~Wesley
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so much in this post, i have to work backwards.
That doctor shows that even educated individuals will hold the persecuted christian view whenever possible, will bring up their discipline as martyrdom and hence elevating their own standing as a faithful follower of the jesus man. Its disgusting, his authority as a healer is used to promote superstition and ultimately hate in the community. To think that telling someone the devil is after them is sound medical advice and not an emotional abuse of power, the man is derranged.. EVEN if it was true (haha i know but hang in there) lets say we all know of the great jehovah and his adversary wandering the erath tempting us and bringing about gods justice ( which to me kinda seems like hes working for god) WHY would telling an ill person that kind of distressing message help them recover. and even if it did bring them to jesus, is that the kind of motivation you want in your church body.. NOW BACK TO REALITY.. The board was right to give an imeadiate official warning cause when would this kind of advice do anygood for the medical industry.. if all you have to do is follow jesus to keep the devil and his illnesses off your back why make hospitals over churches.. churches are cheaper, require alot less schooling to staff and all those demon plagued unbelievers can just rot in the gutters… christs love in action. But swing to the other end where doctors give a pil for every ill as opposed to looking into the nutrition and lifestyle of the individual.. and possibly compounding a problem unknown.. so yes there is faith in both directions and it tends to come down to a desensitized society in so many ways. my solution, people need to be educated about their bodies and what makes then run right, doctors need only concern themselves with those bodies and refer any mental (demons) or psychological issues to experts in that field. educate educate.