Mara Kara was a fun-loving, eleven year old girl who liked to wear her straight brown hair in a ponytail. A photo that ran in the newspaper after she died shows her kneeling proudly over a work of art she was creating at an outdoor chalkfest. Since Kara, as she was called, was completely under the care and authority of her parents, she was not allowed to choose her own religion, nor was she free to decide to take herself to the doctor. She died on Easter Sunday 2008, after suffering days of ghastly pain from undiagnosed but easily treatable diabetes. Her devout Christian parents had refused to take her to the hospital, believing that prayer alone can heal the sick.
Kara’s father, who once studied to be a Pentecostal minister, testified that he neither wanted nor expected his daughter to die. Believing himself to be a good parent, he had faith that God would heal Kara, as promised in the Bible:
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.
–James 5: 14-15
During the trial after her death, Kara’s father was resolute: “If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God. I am not believing what God said he would do.”
Instead of acting like normal, prudent parents, who would naturally seek real help when it was obvious their daughter was in serious condition, the family contacted Unleavened Bread Ministries. The founder of that fundamentalist church, David Eells, has written, “Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital. Jesus offered healing by one means only. Healing was by faith.” [Eells prayed, by phone, with the parents of Kara for her healing on Saturday evening.]
…As a direct result of her “loving” parents faith-based actions, Kara died the next morning [Easter Sunday], the day Christians celebrate their Lord Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death.
–Dan Barker, in the foreword to Victor Stenger’s, God and the Folly of Faith
End of post.
Escaping Christian Fundamentalism 
there are lots and lots of books written on the topic of “toxic faith”, by Christians.
I figured out, pretty early on, that a lot of what fundamentalist or literalist Christians taught and believed was total hogwash.
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Fundamentalists take Jesus at his word. Moderates and liberal are forced to make up ad hoc explanations for why one should not take Jesus at his word when what they should really do is admit the truth: Jesus was wrong!
“Jesus never told any sick person to go see a doctor!”
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One of my first thoughts after reading … “Jesus never sent anyone to a doctor or a hospital. — did doctors and/or hospitals even exist in those days?!!? It’s more than apparent, the pastor was using modern-day reasoning. Further, if one wants to get technical, the bible teaches “laying on of hands” to heal the sick. I guess he expected his “voice” over the phone would be just as good.
The antics of these people never ceases to amaze me … and sadden me when I hear/read about cases like this one.
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We do know that their were “physicians” during that time period. What they did exactly, I don’t know. I would guess herbal cures, etc. The companion of Paul, Luke, was referred to as a “physician”.
Jesus himself endorsed the idea that a sick person could ask for healing and receive it simply by asking by faith. He never mentions the assistance of medical care:
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. –John 14:14
Moderate and liberal Christians will try to insert “if it is my will” into that statement, but Jesus did not say that he would do something only if it was his will in this statement, he said he would do ANYTHING if asked in his name. I’m sure that the parents of Kara asked for her healing “in Jesus’ name”. Jesus did not answer their prayers. He let the little girl suffer horribly for a couple of days and then die.
Either Jesus is a liar…or Jesus is dead.
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Gary, have you ever visited Ben’s blog? He’s an ex-Christian who writes extensively about what he believed before … and explains in very personal terms why it’s no longer valid. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Here’s the link,
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Thanks, Nan. I’ll check it out.
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I think I goofed on the link … here it is (in plain sight) … https://mylifeafterreligion.wordpress.com
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I left a comment on Ben’s blog but it does not appear on the blog. I’m not sure what is up. Maybe you can ask him.
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It appears that he just recently changed his blog theme … it didn’t have all the pictures on the home screen before. I find it confusing myself. I have noticed on some blogs that comments from “new people” seem to disappear, rather than showing up as being moderated. In any case, I’ll see if I can get in touch with him.
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He says he hasn’t seen your comment … ?? Let me know the name of the post you commented on and I’ll relay the info. It may have gone into his spam folder. I do think the two of you would enjoy “talking” with each other. 🙂
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Hi Nan,
My comment was a response to a reader named “Colorstorm”. However, after seeing how irrational he is, I am GLAD my comment did not post. I will keep an eye on the blog and comment in the future. Thanks again for the referral!
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Ahhhh yes. Colorstorm. He is, if nothing else, “unique.” Your instincts were right — best to stay away. I do hope, however, that you’ll eventually be able to “converse” with Ben. I think you would enjoy it. And you’re welcome. 🙂
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