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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

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.

Tuesday May 8, 2012
Ariel Ben Sherman and Jacqueline CrankFaith HealingRNB's Religion News Blog:
Jacqueline Crank and Ariel Ben Sherman A decade-long court dispute over a child neglect case that spawned a legal battle over faith healing, ended Tuesday with two guilty convictions for the girls’ mother and friend.

Sherman and Crank say they will appeal the conviction, and the case is expected to test Tennessee state laws that allow parents to make medical decisions based on their faith.

Tuesday May 1, 2012
Ariel Ben Sherman and Jacqueline CrankFaith HealingRNB's Religion News Blog:
Jaqueline Crank and Ariel Ben Sherman Nearly ten years ago the mother and ‘spiritual father’ of a 15-year-old girl who died of bone cancer were charged for failing to heed advice from medical professionals and instead relying solely on faith healing.

The trial of Jacqueline Pearl Crank and her minister, Ariel Ben Sherman, has been now been set for May 8 in Loudon County Circuit Court.

Saturday April 28, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Swezey faith healing trial A Washington state law that allows faith healing for Christian Scientists but not other religions is not arbitrary, a judge has ruled.

The decision clears the way for the Tuesday start of a second-degree murder case against a couple whose son died three years ago.

Monday April 23, 2012
Faith HealingRNB's Religion News Blog:
Culture Shifters Grant Shaw, who leads the Pentecostal group Culture Shifters in Brisbane, said threatening emails would be forwarded by church members to police.

Parents and doctors were alarmed at YouTube videos showing Culture Shifters’ members touching and praying with people on the streets.

Tuesday April 17, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornRNB's Religion News BlogRussel and Brandi Bellew:
Russel and Brandi Bellew Six siblings in Creswell, Oregon, became wards of the state as their parents await trial in connection with the faith healing death of their teenage son.

The family attends the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born in Pleasant Hill, which generally believes in using prayer instead of medical care to treat illnesses.

Monday April 16, 2012
Faith HealingRNB's Religion News Blog:
Culture Shifters Children as young as 13 claim they have instantly healed hundreds of people using the miracle powers of Jesus on Queensland streets.

The Pentecostal group Culture Shifters says it has healed people suffering from cancer and multiple sclerosis and is developing a large youth following.

Saturday March 10, 2012
Crystal CathedralFaith HealingGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyHardus and Nicolette LotterHarold CampingRNB's Religion News BlogScientology:
5 religion news stories We have collected nearly 500 religion stories this week. Most of them we never post, but simple file instead to have information on hand should we need it.

But we have hand-selected 5 news stories from the past week that we think deserve a closer look.

Tuesday March 6, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Gregory and Garnet Swezey A couple from Carlton, WA pleaded not guilty today to charges of second-degree murder in the death of their 17-year-old son, Zachary Swezey.

Police say Zachary died because his parents failed to call for medical assistance, and relied on prayer instead.

Sunday February 19, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornRNB's Religion News BlogRussel and Brandi Bellew:
Russel and Brandi Bellew Six children of an Oregon couple arrested in the faith-healing death of their 16-year-old son have been placed in temporary state custody.

Russel and Brandi Bellew each face mandatory prison sentences of six years and three months if convicted of second-degree manslaughter.

Wednesday February 15, 2012
Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornRNB's Religion News BlogRussel and Brandi Bellew:
Russel and Brandi Bellew A Creswell, Oregon couple charged with second-degree manslaughter in the ‘faith healing’ death of their teenaged son pleaded not guilty in court Monday.

The couple belongs to the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born — a church with a long history of controversial death related to its unbiblical teachings regarding faith healing.

Faith HealingGeneral Assembly Church of the First BornGregory and Garnet JaLea SwezeyRNB's Religion News Blog:
Zachery Swezey It took the Prosecutors’ Office in Okanogan County, Washington nearly three years to file charges against the parents of a teenager who police say died because the couple failed to call for medical assistance, relying on prayer instead.

Officials say the case was delayed by several priority cases, along with attorney staffing issues.

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