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Faith Healing

Faith healing refers to healing that occurs supernaturally, as the result of prayer rather than the use of medicines or the involvement of physicians or other conventional medical care. Such healings are often referred to as miracles.

The term is best known in connection with Christianity, but is also used in other religions. It is further used in relation to such occult, New Age healing techniques as Reiki.

Some individuals, groups or churches have extremist teachings and practices regarding faith healing — often resulting in needless deaths. Many such instances are related in this news archive.

Research resources on faith healing

Tuesday May 7, 2013
Faith HealingFirst Century Gospel ChurchHerbert and Catherine SchaibleRNB's Religion News Blog:
Seven children of a Herbert and Catherine Schaible, couple under investigation in the death of their 8-month old son, have received court-ordered medical examinations and any needed immunizations.

The Schaible’s are members of the First Century Gospel Church, which teaches that a person’s salvation depends on trusting God to heal without medical help or medicine.

Wednesday April 24, 2013
Faith HealingFirst Century Gospel ChurchHerbert and Catherine SchaibleRNB's Religion News Blog:
Prosecutors are awaiting the autopsy results of an 8-months-old boy whose ‘faith healing only’ parents are on probation in the 2009 death of their 2-year-old son.

The parents attend a church whose false teachings regarding faith, healing and salvation are a form of spiritual abuse.

Saturday April 20, 2013
Faith HealingFirst Century Gospel ChurchHerbert and Catherine SchaibleRNB's Religion News Blog:
A faith healing couple who are members of a church that shuns doctors and medicine have lost a second child.

Convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, two years ago the couple were sentenced to probation under the stipulation that they schedule regular medical appointments for all their children.

Wednesday March 27, 2013
Faith HealingMadeline Kara NeumannRNB's Religion News Blog:
Five years ago this month, an 11-year-old Wisconsin girl died from a treatable form of diabetes after her parents prayed for healing rather than seek medical treatment.

But five years later her parents, convicted of second-degree reckless homicide, have yet to spent a day in jail.

Thursday January 10, 2013
Ariel Ben Sherman and Jacqueline CrankFaith HealingRNB's Religion News Blog:
The late Ariel Ben Sherman was charged in a teen girl’s faith healing death, but he sought medical treatment for his own conditions.

Even after his death legal arguments in the case continue: still up before the appellate court to decide is whether the state’s spiritual exemption law that allows parents to forego medical treatment in favor of faith healing is in violation of the U.S. Constitution and its equal protection guarantees.

Wednesday December 5, 2012
Faith HealingMadeline Kara NeumannRNB's Religion News Blog:
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is hearing the case of Leilani and Dale Neumann, who in separate trials were convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in their daughter’s faith healing death.

The case poses questions for the justices about when the state’s responsibility to protect children trumps religious freedom.

Wednesday September 19, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornRNB's Religion News BlogRussel and Brandi Bellew:
Russel and Brandi Bellew A couple charged with manslaughter in the faith-healing death of their 16-year old son, Austin Sprout, were sentenced to five years probation.

Russel and Brandi Bellow are members of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn — part a network of churches that have extremist teachings on the subject of faith healing.

Sunday July 1, 2012
Faith HealingMadeline Kara NeumannRNB's Religion News Blog:
Madeline Kara Neumann In a case that could define when faith healing crosses the line into criminal behavior, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of two parents convicted of homicide after opting for prayer over medical care when their daughter was dying of undiagnosed diabetes.

Tuesday June 12, 2012
Christian ScienceFaith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Christian Science A recent ruling upholding a Washington state law that allows faith healing for Christian Scientists but not other religions will go unchallenged after a couple on trial in the faith healing death of their son accepted a plea.

The religious movement, considered by Christians to be a cult of Christianity, has been able to negotiate exemptions to the health laws in a number of states.

Friday June 8, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Gregory and Garnet JaLea Swezey A north-central Washington couple on Thursday agreed to accept a plea deal that spares them jail time but holds them responsible for their teenage son’s death after they failed to call a doctor.

JaLea and Greg Swezey are members of the Church of the First Born, a group of churches whose extreme, unbiblical teachings regarding faith healing has resulted in the needless loss of life.

Sunday May 27, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornRNB's Religion News BlogSusan Grady:
Susan Grady Susan Grady has been convicted on second-degree manslaughter in the faith healing death of her 9-year-old son, Aaron Grady.

Grady is a member of The General Assemblies and Church of the First Born church, a movement whose extremist teachings regarding faith healing have led to many unnecessary deaths.

Wednesday May 23, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornRNB's Religion News BlogSusan Grady:
Susan Grady In Tulsa, Oklahoma, the jury selection process is under way for the trial of a woman accused of relying on faith and prayer, rather than seeking medical care, to treat her 9-year-old son who died of diabetes-related complications.

Susan Grady is a member of the Church of the First Born — a network of churches whose extremist teachings regarding faith healing have resulted in many unnecessary deaths.

Tuesday May 15, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Gregory and Garnet Swezey Gregory and Garnet JaLea Swezey have been found not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of their 17-year-old son.

They had been accused of relying on faith healing instead of getting their son proper medical attention

Friday May 11, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
faith healing Gregory and Garnet Swezey of Carlton, Washington are on trial on charges of second-degree murder in the death of their 17-year-old son.

Their lawyer: if you ask the Swezeys what they would have done if they knew it was a ruptured appendix, and that their son was dying, “They both say, they don’t know.”

Thursday May 10, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Greg and Jalea Swezey The second-degree murder trial of a faith healing couple whose teenage son died of a burst appendix is underway.

17-year-old Zachary Swezey died of a burst appendix while his parents and other members of the Church of the First Born prayed for his recovery, and failed to call a doctor or ambulance.

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