Special Report: Mormonism besieged by the modern age | Reuters

Special Report: Mormonism besieged by the modern age | Reuters

Education Dept wants the word "birthday" removed from tests for students whose religions don't practice birthday celebrations

School of Fail: Let’s Not Insult People Who Don’t Believe in Birthdays! Or Anyone Ever About Anything. - EPIC FAIL Funny Videos and Epic Fail Funny Pictures

Original article: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/war-on-words-nyc-dept-of-education-wants-50-forbidden-words-removed-from-standardized-tests/

Woman saved as an infant by forced blood transfusion writes thank-you note to attorney

Emailed thank-you note gives Pensacola lawyer a blast from past | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com

Skeptic History: Millennial Cults

Skeptic History: Millennial Cults

Cult disciplines member for enrolling in college

That's right--cults often prohibit members from education and all types of learning outside the organization.  Click the hyperlinked title of this post to read one example of social sanctions (partial shunning) imposed for higher education.

Why?  Check out this explanation from FactNet.org:

Prohibit disconfirming information and non supporting opinions in group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An "in-group" language is usually constructed.

This quote says it all!

Watchtower Magazine 09/15/41 p. 287
In the Kingdom the 'great multitude' will look to the Lord to guide as to selecting each a mate for himself. Why, then, should a man who has the prospect before him of being of the great multitude now tie himself up to a stack of bones and a hank of hair?

On Jehovah’s Witnesses (As Told by an Ex-Jehovah’s Witness)

On Jehovah’s Witnesses (As Told by an Ex-Jehovah’s Witness)

Infant's death at hospital linked to circumcision followed by oral suction

Under the practice, the rabbi or mohel removes blood from the wound with his mouth — a practice city health officials have criticized, saying it carried “inherent risks” for babies.

In 2004, three infants circumcised by Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer were determined to have contracted herpes, city officials said.

Among them were twins circumcised in October 2004 after Fischer performed the religious ceremony known as a bris.

Read the rest of the article in the New York Daily News by clicking the title of this post.

It seems the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is concerned enough about this practice, known as "metzizah b’ peh", that they have posted a warning on their website.  Here is an excerpt:

How metzitzah b'peh spreads herpes

In metzitzah b'peh, the mohel places his mouth on the freshly circumcised penis to draw blood away from the cut. If the mohel is infected with oral herpes (as most adults are), metzitzah b'peh can expose the infant to the herpes virus...Even without symptoms, however, people can spread the infection.

Because the immune system of newborns is not developed enough to fight serious infection, herpes infections pose grave risks to infants.

There is no proven way to reduce the risk of metzitzah b'peh

Although a mohel may use oral rinses or sip wine before metzitzah b'peh, there is no evidence that these actions reduce the spread of herpes. A mohel who takes antiviral medication may reduce the risk of spreading herpes virus during metzitzah b'peh, but there is no evidence that taking medication eliminates this risk...

Here is what appears to be a modern, balanced view of this practice by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

Hopefully, some will learn from this story that unquestioning faith in a pre-scientific book is dangerous and not respectful of life.

Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1925)

Church leader 'poisons' rival | Adelaide Now

Church leader 'poisons' rival | Adelaide Now

...The bizarre incident is believed to be connected to a disciplinary matter within the Mt Lofty Jehovah's Witnesses Church congregation, where both the charged man and the victim and his family are members.

It is understood the charged man may have resented the involvement of the victim, a church elder, in a matter which saw him "disfellowshipped" in 2010 over his conduct.

The poisoning victim, who asked not to be identified, said the charged man was no longer a member of the 100-strong congregation.

"He was removed from the congregation," he said....

Marvin Shilmer: Watchtower Doctor on Blood

Marvin Shilmer: Watchtower Doctor on Blood