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This is the sort of thing which occurs when superstition (Christianity) comes into contact with profound ignorance ...

QuoteStanding before a wooden cross, Pastor Moise Tshombe, in a robe adorned with pictures of Jesus, went into a trance. Claiming to be speaking through the Holy Spirit, he declared, "These children are witches."

... a growing number of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being accused of witchcraft and subjected to violent exorcisms by religious leaders, in which they are often beaten, burned, starved and even murdered.

QuoteChildren in Congo forced into exorcisms

Isaac Mananga, 10, and his half sister Chanel, 7, knelt on the dirt floor of the church, staring up at the pastor through scared, confused eyes.

Standing before a wooden cross, Pastor Moise Tshombe, in a robe adorned with pictures of Jesus, went into a trance. Claiming to be speaking through the Holy Spirit, he declared, "These children are witches."

Moments later, with Isaac and Chanel by her side, the children's grandmother, Marie Nzenze, said she believed the charges. "God has spoken through the mouth of the prophet," she said. "God has not lied."

According to a United Nations report issued this year, a growing number of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being accused of witchcraft and subjected to violent exorcisms by religious leaders, in which they are often beaten, burned, starved and even murdered. The relatively new phenomenon has become one of the main causes in Central Africa for humanitarian groups, which are organizing programs to protect children's rights and educate pastors on the dangers of accusing children.

Ties to poverty

Liana Bianchi, the administrative director for the humanitarian group Africare, says the trend is partly the result of decades of war and economic decline in the Congo. The non-profit group Save the Children estimates that 70% of the roughly 15,000 street children in Kinshasa, the capital, were kicked out of their homes after being accused of witchcraft.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: United Nations | Africa | Jesus | Angola | Nigeria
"In my opinion," Bianchi said, "poverty is really at the root of child abandonment. Accusations of witchcraft have become socially acceptable reasons for why a family turns a child out on the street."

The practice, which has also been reported in Nigeria and Angola, can be lucrative for the priests who perform them.

Pastor Tshombe charged Julie Moseka $50 to exorcise her emaciated daughter, Noella, 8. The average annual salary in Congo is $100.

During the ceremony, Pastor Tshombe and three of his aides held Noella's spindly limbs down and poured hot candle wax on her belly while she screamed and cried. Then the pastor bit down hard and pulled the skin on her stomach, pretending to pull demonic flesh out of her.

 (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.usatoday.net%2Fnews%2F_photos%2F2009%2F05%2F20%2Fcongox-large.jpg&hash=fd88d95e136aa8c35af77b3941155d63a6f2373c)

In an interview afterward, Tshombe acknowledged the ritual can be painful, but he says it's necessary because otherwise the children would not be "cured."

When asked whether he thinks Jesus would approve of what he's doing, Tshombe said, "Why wouldn't he be happy? I'm just using the gifts given to me by the Holy Spirit."

Noella's mother, agreed. "It was imperative that it happen this way," she said, "because the child is accused of witchcraft."

The pastors who conduct such rituals are non-denominational, and most have no theological training, says Matondo Kasese of the humanitarian group Reejer. According to Arnold Mushiete, a social worker with a small Catholic organization called Our House, Congo's atmosphere of religious fervor, minimal education and rampant poverty makes for fertile territory for pastors who convince desperate parents that their children are the cause of their financial, medical and romantic problems.

"Formerly in our culture," Mushiete said, "the child was a precious being. Now, because of the church, children have become harmful beings."

Thrown into streets

Mushiete works with street children who have been accused of witchcraft. He says homeless children are frequently raped and beaten, even by police. Drug use is rampant. Girls often resort to prostitution, leaving their own babies to sleep on the side of the road at night while they sell themselves.

The Congolese legislature recently passed a law that makes it illegal to accuse children of witchcraft, but many activists, including Bianchi, say the law is not enforced.

Even the head of a special government commission to protect children accused of witchcraft said he thinks it is possible for children to be "sorcerers."

"You sometimes see a very little child with big eyes, black eyes, a distended stomach," said Theodore Luleka Mwanalwamba. "These are the physical aspects."

When asked how someone with his beliefs could protect children accused of witchcraft, he said the state has "the duty to save all the people who are in dangerous situations." He said cracking down on abusive pastors is difficult because "important people" are sometimes members of their churches.

Mushiete, the social worker, said he does not get discouraged. "The big work we want to do," he said, "is to sensitize the pastors, so they give another image of Jesus â€" not a Jesus who tortures children."

Harris is a reporter and anchor for ABC News. His report on children accused of witchcraft in Africa will air Thursday on Nightlineon ABC at 11:35 ET.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009 ... htm?csp=34 (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-05-20-childwitch_N.htm?csp=34)

Mother Theresa did the same thing.

Damn I felt sad reading this.As a man with kids,I just can not stand to see it.Its quite sick the length some people feel the need to go to just to show the point that "My religion is right and I can prove it by driving away imaginary evil".

I hate people like this.

What kind of person does this? Really, this kind of stuff is just sick beyond what I can understand.

Reminds me of that jackass, mother****ing Peter Popoff.

And you can bet that if anyone were to bring this up, we would get

"Oh no, they are not a TRUE Christian"

Wow... just wow...

That makes me so sad.  Children as witches and sorcerers?  And the physical signs he gave as proof they are sorcerers sounds a lot like the signs of starvation... distended stomach, big black eyes... ignorance coupled with religion = death.

QuotePastor Tshombe charged Julie Moseka $50 to exorcise her emaciated daughter, Noella, 8. The average annual salary in Congo is $100.

nuff said

Quote from: "Jolly Sapper"

QuotePastor Tshombe charged Julie Moseka $50 to exorcise her emaciated daughter, Noella, 8. The average annual salary in Congo is $100.

nuff said

At the nucleus of Christianity is a core of snake oil salesmen preying on fear and ignorance to extract as much wealth and power from its gullible followers as they possibly can ... and, the more fearful and ignorant that their followers are, the more money they make.

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That is why these Christian leaders loudly voice their warnings of atheists in their midst ... we totally threaten their nice money making scams.

.

Quote from: "VietnamVet-BRIGHT"

Quote from: "Jolly Sapper"

QuotePastor Tshombe charged Julie Moseka $50 to exorcise her emaciated daughter, Noella, 8. The average annual salary in Congo is $100.

nuff said

At the nucleus of Christianity is a core of snake oil salesmen preying on fear and ignorance to extract as much wealth and power from its gullible followers as they possibly can ... and, the more fearful and ignorant that their followers are, the more money they make.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fscrapetv.com%2FNews%2FNews%2520Pages%2FScience%2FImages%2Fbilly-burke-faith-healing.jpg&hash=6861458a7c9a382a118b00ab111e1efa0b90b414)


That is why these Christian leaders loudly voice their warnings of atheists in their midst ... we totally threaten their nice money making scams.

.

Religion is the single most successful scam ever devised.

Quote from: "Squid"Religion is the single most successful scam ever devised.

And so it might continue.  F*ck anyone who takes advantage of the weak, ignorant, or naive.

While I believe everyone is responsible for their own life, even I only apply that distinction to "adults". Children are only responsible for the adult they will become, but nothing more.

Still, I think attacking the religion of these people is trying to solve the problem from the wrong end of the stick, so to speak. The real issues at hand is an economic--and thus, educational--crises. If it were me in the legislature, I'd immediately start thinking of ways to increase the teaching of reading to children. All those missionary programs? They'd be much better suited as Reading rainbows.

I agree,to treat childern in this manner is horrible,actually to mistreat childern in any way is horrible and it is not part of the christian belief so please stop blaming christianity for such horrible acts.I've stated on another post love is at the core of christianity and these acts against childern have no resemblance to love.If you doubt what I'm saying read the New Testament and checkout what is said about childern.

Christianity is their justification, or so they claim.  They can use it to play off the beliefs of other local Christians.  But, to be sure, these people would claim you were not a true Christian.  Personally, I'd rather think you are.  There's still the more general problem.  Religion created the demons they need to cast out, and religion told them they could do it.  It's not hard to see why many atheists hold a disdain for.  Make no mistake, even if we were all atheists, there would still be crazies.  But as Steven Weinberg said:

QuoteWith or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.

Jesus said.. "BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HURT A CHILD.."

Jesus said.. "A child is the gift to the Mother.."

Jesus said.. "You must become pure as an innocent child before you shall walk into the Kingdom of GOD.."

Now you have the facts.

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HURT A CHILD.."

Jesus said.. "A child is the gift to the Mother.."

Jesus said.. "You must become pure as an innocent child before you shall walk into the Kingdom of GOD.."

Now you have the facts.

Didn't he also preach, "Spare the rod, spoil the child?"

 

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HURT A CHILD.."

Jesus said.. "A child is the gift to the Mother.."

Jesus said.. "You must become pure as an innocent child before you shall walk into the Kingdom of GOD.."

Now you have the facts.

Those are not now, nor will they ever be, facts.  They are lines from a book written so long ago, no one can know for sure if it was EVER true, much less factual.

Nice try, though.

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HURT A CHILD.."

Hmm... I guess spanking your kid is a big nono, or does that extend to self-esteem as well?

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "A child is the gift to the Mother.."

Haha, good one. I guess that's why there's so many women with postpartum depression and women who all but castrate their sons. What planet are you living on?

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "You must become pure as an innocent child before you shall walk into the Kingdom of GOD.."

Why? So that he can give them candy? How about, "Jesus Juice"? "Ok, timmy! Now it's time to practice loving god...!"

Quote from: "Psalm23"Now you have the facts.

A fat lot of good those did. I'd rather you get me underage kitten-girl hentai. Om nom nom nom...yum.  

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HURT A CHILD.."

They believe they are helping these children.

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "A child is the gift to the Mother.."

They believe this, too.

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "You must become pure as an innocent child before you shall walk into the Kingdom of GOD.."

And no doubt this, too.

Quote from: "Psalm23"Now you have the facts.

Now you have the facts.

Quote from: "PipeBox"Christianity is their justification, or so they claim. They can use it to play off the beliefs of other local Christians. But, to be sure, these people would claim you were not a true Christian. Personally, I'd rather think you are. There's still the more general problem. Religion created the demons they need to cast out, and religion told them they could do it. It's not hard to see why many atheists hold a disdain for. Make no mistake, even if we were all atheists, there would still be crazies. But as Steven Weinberg said:

QuoteWith or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.

If their actions and beliefs are defining christianity then I must be studying the wrong book and if they believe that I'm not a christian because I would not do what they are...well at least that disassociates me from them and as Martha Stewart would say that's a good thing.Thank you for recognizing that I'm a christiain and I say this because I believe you see that I'm trying to follow the teachings of Jesus,I'm not able to always do what I know I should do and I'll do what I know I should not so perfect I'm not I'm not even close.Weinberg should have made a more complete statement,with or without it you'd have good people doing good things and bad people doing bad things and good people doing bad things and bad people doing good things this seems a more realistic statement to me.

You are right that religion has contributed to many bad things in history and true christianity gets caught up in this when it's practiced as a religion.Christianity has nothing to do with religion christianity is a personal relationship with God in the trinity.Where these people got the idea that they could treat childern in such horrible ways is beyond me.If they see these childern as enemies then they should have followed the teaching of Jesus:Love thy enemy,feed thy enemy,cloth thy enemy.What they did has nothing to do with love as defind by Jesus.Now they have more than likely turned these childern away from Jesus.If people like those who tortured those childern would study the New Testament they would have seen how Jesus faced a situation like that they would have loved them in the same way Jesus would.

Quote from: "Godschild"If their actions and beliefs are defining christianity then I must be studying the wrong book and if they believe that I'm not a christian because I would not do what they are

What makes someone belong to a certain religious BELIEF in what they BELIEVE. Not what they do.

QuoteChristianity has nothing to do with religion christianity is a personal relationship with God in the trinity.

Trust me. I'm sure they talk to their imaginary friend too. Come to think of it - that's not much of a relationship.... talking to something with no response. Can I have a relationship with a wall?  

Quote from: "SSY"And you can bet that if anyone were to bring this up, we would get

"Oh no, they are not a TRUE Christian"

Quote from: "Godschild"I agree,to treat childern in this manner is horrible,actually to mistreat childern in any way is horrible and it is not part of the christian belief so please stop blaming christianity for such horrible acts.I've stated on another post love is at the core of christianity and these acts against childern have no resemblance to love.If you doubt what I'm saying read the New Testament and checkout what is said about childern.

I CALLED IT!

Quote from: "SSY"I CALLED IT!

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Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "Godschild"If their actions and beliefs are defining christianity then I must be studying the wrong book and if they believe that I'm not a christian because I would not do what they are

What makes someone belong to a certain religious BELIEF in what they BELIEVE. Not what they do.

One can not take the ideas and principles out any belief system so that it fits what they want it to be or what they want to believe about that system.That is exactly what this man has done"trust me".To be a christian you have to believe in Jesus and what He teaches and try to live what He teaches.This man is not even close,it really disgust me to think any one would associate the christian church with such a thing as torturing childern.Anyone can claim to be a christian just as I could claim to be the president of the United States however that does not make either statement true.It is what your doing that defines your claims.

Quote from: "Godschild"Christianity has nothing to do with religion christianity is a personal relationship with God in the trinity.

Trust me. I'm sure they talk to their imaginary friend too. Come to think of it - that's not much of a relationship.... talking to something with no response. Can I have a relationship with a wall?

You can most certainly have a relationship with a wall if you desire,God has given you the freewill to do so,"trust me" it will not answer.I keep saying you all do not understand christianity.There is so much more to the relationship than prayer.Yes I'm sure that they pray and they most certainly believe that God answers them but the problem with what they hear is they only hear what they expected to hear.Jesus never taught the torture of childern and He certainly would not have told them to do something that's sinful.Do not come back with hell you chose your eternal destination and these childern certainly did not choose to be tortured.

Quote from: "SSY"

Quote from: "SSY"And you can bet that if anyone were to bring this up, we would get

"Oh no, they are not a TRUE Christian"

Quote from: "Godschild"I agree,to treat childern in this manner is horrible,actually to mistreat childern in any way is horrible and it is not part of the christian belief so please stop blaming christianity for such horrible acts.I've stated on another post love is at the core of christianity and these acts against childern have no resemblance to love.If you doubt what I'm saying read the New Testament and checkout what is said about childern.

I CALLED IT!

You sure do have very limited arguments about what a christian is see if you can do better and go to the Bible and prove that this man is a christian you are the one who makes the claim he is so the burden of proof is on you.I know you didn't do as I suggested above maybe it's because you do not know where the New Testament begins a hint try the book of Matthew.

Quote from: "Godschild"You sure do have very limited arguments about what a christian is see if you can do better and go to the Bible and prove that this man is a christian you are the one who makes the claim he is so the burden of proof is on you.I know you didn't do as I suggested above maybe it's because you do not know where the New Testament begins a hint try the book of Matthew.

Thats funny atheists like reason and logic to devise arguments against mystical thinking arguing against christians is just entertainment oh and walls can talk if your philosophical enough silence says everything.Dont you agree my writing style is great and easy to read i think it is do you have any suggestions for me to improve i'd love to here.

 :brick:  :brick:  :brick:  :brick:  :brick:

Quote from: "Godschild"You can most certainly have a relationship with a wall if you desire,God has given you the freewill to do so,"trust me" it will not answer.I keep saying you all do not understand christianity.There is so much more to the relationship than prayer.Yes I'm sure that they pray and they most certainly believe that God answers them but the problem with what they hear is they only hear what they expected to hear.Jesus never taught the torture of childern and He certainly would not have told them to do something that's sinful.Do not come back with hell you chose your eternal destination and these childern certainly did not choose to be tortured.

You would think we're discussing some sort of rocket science here.  

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Psalm23"Jesus said.. "BEWARE OF THOSE WHO WOULD HURT A CHILD.."

Jesus said.. "A child is the gift to the Mother.."

Jesus said.. "You must become pure as an innocent child before you shall walk into the Kingdom of GOD.."

Now you have the facts.

Didn't he also preach, "Spare the rod, spoil the child?"

 :P

Over all though this kind of thing doesn't surprise me.
It makes me glad that I was smart enough to hate my family and not buy into Christian fanaticism.

As an Indian I am quite puzzled why religions like christianity and islam have taken root in western countries. I have heard from people who say that they would love to convert or leave their religion except if they were not christians/muslims they would not be allowed to enter heaven! These religions thrive on a climate of fear, threatening their members with dire consequences if they leave. These are nothing but cults, obviously. Why is that good, nice and educated people cannot see that? Also I am surprised that westerners are such easily scared people.

Over the centuries christianity has murdered millions, I am a bit shocked that such few people fought back. An example is the grandmother of these kids accepting the church's doctrine. Surprised that the percentage of atheists is so low when looked at the horrors the church has rendered over the years. I see that it is growing though. One thing that will help are videos and posts like these, in the olden days horros like these might have been covered up. Unfortunately in poor countries when the reporting agencies are staffed by christians, they will still supress stories like these.

Quote from: "Jayp"As an Indian I am quite puzzled why religions like christianity and islam have taken root in western countries.

You and me both, Jayp. Er, the puzzled part. Not the Indian part.  

From wiktionary

QuoteNoun
Singular
Christian
  Plural
Christians
 

Christian (plural Christians)

(Christianity) A believer in Christianity.

He beleives in christianity, and is therefor, a christian. That was so hard, I'm going to go and lie down, maybe I'll get a happy meal.

Quote from: "Squid"

Quote from: "VietnamVet-BRIGHT"At the nucleus of Christianity is a core of snake oil salesmen preying on fear and ignorance to extract as much wealth and power from its gullible followers as they possibly can ... and, the more fearful and ignorant that their followers are, the more money they make.

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That is why these Christian leaders loudly voice their warnings of atheists in their midst ... we totally threaten their nice money making scams.

.

Religion is the single most successful scam ever devised.

This old quote says it all ...

QuoteChurches are little more than casinos that promise eternal life and salvation in return for people's intellectual honesty, time and money.


The only difference is that casinos pay out sometimes.

.