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.

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.
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

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.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laying_on_of_hands#/media/File:Laying_on_of_hands.jpg>.

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.

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.

Faith Healing event, circa 2013

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. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/22/idahos-faith-healing-debate-pits-child-welfare-against-parentalrights.html>.,

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. <http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/child-endangerment.htm>.
Lawless, Val. Doctor Measuring Pulse. Digital image. StockVault. N.p., 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.stockvault.net/photo/127616/doctormeasuring-pulse#>.
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. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/22/idahos-faith-healing-debate-pits-child-welfare-againstparental-rights.html>.,

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. <http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/child-endangerment.htm>.
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-schaiblesentence_n_4818659.html>.
Hodan, George Praying Hands. 2009. Public Domain Pictures Web. 4 May 2015. <http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/viewimage.php?image=54433&picture=praying-hands>.
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. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/22/idahos-faith-healing-debate-pits-child-welfare-againstparental-rights.html>.,

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.

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-schaiblesentence_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. <http://www.alamy.com/image-detailspopup.asp?imageid={58539285-42D8-4914-B883-D896E4421B00}>.
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. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/22/idahos-faith-healing-debate-pits-child-welfareagainst-parental-rights.html>.,

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.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/amish-faq/>.
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-schaiblesentence_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
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. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/22/idahos-faith-healing-debate-pits-child-welfare-againstparental-rights.html>.,

Bibliography: Text, Idea & Academic Sources

American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/amish-faq/>.
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>.
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. <http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminaloffense/child-endangerment.htm>.
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
Gray, Martin. "Lourdes." Sacred Sites. 2014. Web. 7 May 2015. http://sacredsites.com/europe/france/lourdes.html
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. <http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/22/idahos-faith-healingdebate-pits-child-welfare-against-parental-rights.html>.

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Bibliography: Image Sources

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.
Gray, Martin. "Lourdes." Sacred Sites. 2014. Web. 7 May 2015. http://sacredsites.com/europe/france/lourdes.html
Hodan, George Praying Hands. 2009. Public Domain Pictures Web. 4 May 2015.
<http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=54433&picture=praying-hands>.
Lawless, Val. Doctor Measuring Pulse. Digital image. StockVault. N.p., 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 07 May 2015.
<http://www.stockvault.net/photo/127616/doctor-measuring-pulse#>.

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.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laying_on_of_hands#/media/File:Laying_on_of_hands.jpg>.
Martin, Montgomery. An Elderly Pair of Hands Holding a Cross. 2009.Alamy. Web. 4 May 2015.
<http://www.alamy.com/image-details-popup.asp?imageid={58539285-42D8-4914-B883-D896E4421B00}>.
"Path To Faith." image of lay on hands, 2013. Web. 5 May 2015. http://pathtofaith.com/

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