I came across a BBC documentary entitled Baby Bible Bashers. It has to be one of the most disturbing things I have ever watched on the internet.
This documentary, produced by Channel 4 in the UK, originally aired last month. It focuses around 3 "chosen" children that have a "personal relationship" with god, and are: Preachers! The film follows the children around as they preach to the masses. Watching this physically affected me; I felt sick to my stomach and developed a headache. I found myself saddened for these poor kids and on several occasions just sat there mouth agape, shaking my head in disbelief. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit I am a big fat hypocrite. As one who has chosen medicine as my life's work and someone who will be taking the Hippocratic Oath in 2 years, I had several un-Hippocratic ideas waft through my mind as I watched. Most revolved around inflicting blunt force trauma upon some of the parents until the Holy Spirit himself interceded.
One of the most striking scenes involves 7 year-old Samuel. His redneck, inbred, bible thumping parents home school (read: program) young Samuel so that they are free to drive about the country in an RV and pimp out their little boy to stand in public and scream at people not to kill their babies, drink alcohol, and how we are all going to hell yadda yadda yadda. Interestingly enough- at one point mom asks the cameras to be turned off while she "trains" her precocious preacher for not listening- (something 7 year-olds are wont to do) Spare not the rod... and all of that. They are followed as they head to New York city to spew their venom on a street corner. As you can imagine some of the warm-hearted denizens of the city were, shall we say, less than receptive to their message. While dad is in a yelling match with a member of the crowd, the camera pans to young Samuel. Clearly he is terrified. He is, after all, still just a little boy underneath all of the fervor and religious rhetoric. It is quite heartbreaking.
These people are straight-up abusing their children! There is no other way to describe it. None of the 3 kids is old enough to have mastered long division, let along preach religion. Wait, after considering that sentence I admit, you don't have to know anything to preach religion. But I assure you they certainly do not understand what it is that they are saying.
Just as an observation, I get the suspicion that there is something not quite right about the relationship between the girl from Brazil and her father, maybe I'm wrong. Watch it and you tell me.
The video below is in 5 parts and in total is bout 45 minutes. It is well done and very thought provoking. It is definitely worth the time. I hope they show it on American television with the same frequency as some of the garbage reality shows. Perhaps people would ask, "What harm is there in religion?" a lot less.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Truly Disturbing Video!
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10 comments:
Compared to the what goes on in the Madrasahs this is a mild form of indoctrination. I did not see rapid oxidation, automatic weapons, or suicide vests !! The Christians really need to get it into gear if they expect to compete in the global marketplace !!
The Christians really need to get it into gear if they expect to compete in the global marketplace !!
Good stuff! :-)
Nearly everything that is wrong with religion - neatly packaged into a 45 minute video. This is taking freedom of religion a little too far. Between this and Jesus Camp, my head really might literally explode.
I don't think there's any doubt that I agree with evolution, but something like this actually makes me question it, even if for just a second. How could people like these possibly have slipped through the evolutionary cracks?
It is in the incubator of "moderate" religion that this mutant strain thrives.
It almost makes me want to toss my Libertarian card in the trash and support the requirement of an extensive review process prior to the issuance of a:
Permission to Procreate certificate.
For the good of the species, certain genomes must not replicate. ;-)
Consistency Alert!
'For the good of the species, certain genomes must not replicate. ;-)'
'How could people like these possibly have slipped through the evolutionary cracks?'
If we are all born 'atheists' (Vince's thesis) then clearly the etiology of this phenomenon is nurture not nature.
LD, consistency remains unabashed. I do not believe people are born religious. But certain genes that make it possible for this sort of nonsense to run amok, DO get passed along. There is a definitive link between genetics and intelligence for instance. I'll let you draw your own conclusions ;)
Also when I say that for the good of the species some shouldn't replicate, I am referring to both nature AND nurture. Inbred, backward rednecks shouldn't: A)propagate their lineage or B) be involved in the rearing of any such offspring.
'But certain genes that make it possible for this sort of nonsense to run amok, DO get passed along. There is a definitive link between genetics and intelligence for instance.'
Potential T.O.A. alert !
I was not aware that mainstream science had drawn these conclusions. Genes directly linked to patterns of thought .... I haven't seen that, but I don't get out much. As far as the link between genetics and intelligence .... there is so much variability (so much nurture influence) ... I don't see how any inferences can be made (except in the case of the napa ;) ). The 'scientific community' can't even agree on how to define / measure intelligence.
I said there was a link to intelligence, not that it wasn't multi-factorial. I never mentioned patterns of thought. Again you bring up the nurture influence and I agree- another reason why some people shouldn't have kids.
The 'link' ..... what is it .... where is it ? How does the 'link' exert its influence? What 'evidence' supports the theory? I would rather walk a mile on my tongue than be a pain in the ass, but I haven't seen any proof of a correlation.
'But certain genes that make it possible for this sort of nonsense to run amok,'
I assumed this to mean that 'genes' are at least partially responsible for the nonsensical thought.
I said A link not THE link. Twin studies/adoptive studies have shown that there is some correlation between genetics and intelligence.
Originally I was being facetious "I'll let you draw your own conclusions" did you see the wink ;)- I was attempting humor in suggesting that there is any link between intelligence and religiousness- there is of course none that I know of (at least in the way most conceptualize intelligence- but this is another debate)
I stand by my original statement that some people just shouldn't reproduce. For reasons of MOSTLY nurture(you happy now?) and for whatever component of genetics that may manifest itself in increasing the proclivities for religiosity.
Rather walk a mile on my tongue indeed!
Touche'
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