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368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages

What's the harm in religious fundamentalism?

Some religious sects engage in beliefs or practices that go far beyond the norm, and are dangerous to the health or well-being of their own members. (We do not include hate crimes in this database). Read more about religious fundamentalism

Here are 2,370 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.

Saundra Arnold Age: 13 Sacramento, California	Died (untreated intenstinal blockage) 1964
Saundra was ill for 18 days with an intestinal blockage before she died. Her mother, a member of the Church of the First Born, was convicted of manslaughter. Read more

Justin Barnhart Age: 2 Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania	Died (untreated Wilm's tumor) September 1981
Justin's parents belonged to Faith Tabernacle. They withheld medical care for his abdominal tumor until grew larger than a volleyball. Caught early, this type of tumor is curable 90% of the time. They were convicted of manslaughter. Read more

Amanda Bates Age: 13 Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated diabetes) February 5, 2001
Her parents knew she was sick, and prayed for her. What they didn't know was she was diabetic. They never called for medical assistance until she was already dead. They later pled guilty to negligent child abuse. Read more

Jacqueline K. Beagley & her baby Age: 25 / 0 Oregon City, Oregon	Died during childbirth March 20, 1990
She was in labor for four days. She died of a massive infection after rupture of the fetal membrane. Authorities said she would have survived if she had delivered in a hospital. Read more & more

Ishmael Berger Belebbas Olathe, Colorado	Died at birth (stuck in birth canal) 2000
Complications during birth can be dealt with, provided medical practitioners are present. Unfortunately Ishmael's parents belonged to the Church of the First Born, which believes in prayer instead of medicine. Read more

Allyson N. Bergmann Age: 9 months South Bend, Indiana	Died (untreated bacterial meningitis) June 7, 1984
Allyson contracted a disease that is medically treatable. Her parents belong to Faith Assembly, which rejects medical care in favor of prayer. Allyson died and her parents were convicted of reckless homicide. Read more & more

Michael David Boehmer Age: 4 days Lake City, Florida	Died March 15, 1990
Michael suffered a hemorrhage, and lost at least a quarter of his blood. His parents put cotton in his nose and prayed for him. The medical examiner later said he had a 90% survival chance if he had just been given a Vitamin K shot. Read more & more

John Wayne "Punkin" Brown Jr. Age: 34 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Died October 3, 1998
Even though his wife had died doing it, he continued practicing snake handling in his church. He died three years later, orphaning his five children. Read more

Daniel Brown Age: 4 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Daniel is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read more

Jacob Brown Age: 7 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Jacob is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read more

Jeremiah Brown Age: 7 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Jeremiah is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read more

Jonathan Brown Age: 12 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Jonathan is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read more

Melinda Brown Age: 28 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Died August 8, 1995
She died in a religious snake handling ritual, leaving her five children with only one parent. Her husband would die three years later, orphaning the children. Read more

Sarah Brown Age: 5 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Sarah is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read more

Desiree Camren Age: 3 Cushing, Oklahoma	Died February 1987
The medical examiner said that her life could have been saved with medical help, but her parents claimed their religious beliefs prevented that. They were sentenced for second degree manslaughter. Read more

Cedar Grove Methodist Church Thorsby, Alabama	Church collapsed, insurance claim denied June 22, 2006
Pastor Jeff Carroll thought that government should have no say in how he built his church, so he didn't hire an architect or consult the building code. The faulty building collapsed, but noone was injured. Read more & more

Libby Cooke Age: 4 days Brandon, South Dakota	Died (untreated pneumonia) December 1978
Religion (End Times Ministries) Read more & more

Eric & Laura Cottam Age: 14 & 12 Nuangola, Pennsylvania	Died / malnourished January 4, 1989
Though they had $3,600 available, their parents believed the money "belonged to God" and refused to spend it on food. The entire family was malnourished from a purely vegetarian diet. When Eric died, the parents were charged with homicide. Read more & more

Travis Drake Age: 14 Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated ruptured appendix) 1982
Religion (Church of the First Born) Read more

Micaiah Edwards Age: 15 months Spanaway, Washington	Died July 1991
Religion (Traveling Ministries Everyday Church) Read more

Patrick Foster Age: 1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Nearly died of untreated tumor May 1997
He got sick around Christmas, and his parents prayed. Their church did not permit them to take him to the doctor. Fortunately a neighbor saw the gaunt and listless boy and told the authorities. He was hospitalized and a 6 pound tumor was removed. Read more

Hobart Freeman Age: 64 Shoe Lake, Indiana	Died December 8, 1984
Founder of the Faith Assembly, he refused all medical care and intervention and advised his flock to do the same. Some estimate that as many as 90 preventable deaths resulted. Many were children. He himself died at home after refusing treatment. Read more

Melinda Sue Friedenbeger Age: 18 weeks Altoona, Pennsylvania	Died (starvation & dehydration) April 25, 1991
Religion (Faith Tabernacle) Read more

Sarah Handy Valley Springs, South Dakota	Died (bacterial pneumonia) July 1981
Religion (End Times Ministries) Read more

George Went Hensley Age: 75 Cleveland, Tennessee	Died July 25, 1955
He was one of the founders of the modern Christian snake handling movement in the southeastern United States. He died from a snake bite. Read more & more

Sonia Hernandez Age: 4 Lake City, Florida	Died (untreated pneumonia) September 27, 1990
Sonia was never a healthy child, she had a brain disorder and numerous health issues. Then her parents joined End Times Ministry and stopped taking her to the doctor. When she died she was 4 but weighed only 14 1/2 pounds. Read more

Harrison Johnson Age: 2 Tampa, Florida	Died (untreated wasp stings) 1998
Harrison was stung by wasps while his family was visiting church friends. They prayed over the boy but did not seek medical help because they believe doctors practice witchcraft. When an EMT was called 7 hours later, the boy was beyond help. Read more & more

Juliana Keys Age: 6 months Columbia City, Indiana	Died (twisted bowel)
Religious cult (Faith Assembly) Read more

Kyle Lake Age: 33 Waco, Texas	Electrocuted October 30, 2005
Religion Read more & more

Jason Lockhart Age: 9 Enid, Oklahoma	Died (ruptured appendix) 1982
He died of a ruptured appendix. His parents were charged with manslaughter, but acquitted due to Oklahoma's religious exemption law. The law was later changed as a result of this case. Read more

Linda F. Long Age: 48 London, Kentucky	Died November 5, 2006
Religious ritual (Snake handling) Read more & more

Rev. Dwayne Long Age: 45 Jonesville, Virginia	Died April 12, 2004
Religion (snake handling) Read more

Ian Lundman Age: 11 Minneapolis, Minnesota	Died (untreated diabetes) May 9, 1989
Ian had juvenile diabetes, but his family were Christian Scientists, and prayed over him. He eventually died. His father, who had left the church, sued for wrongful death. This was the first such suit to go to a jury. Read more & more

Bob Marley (musician) Age: 36 Nine Miles, Jamaica	Died (untreated cancer) May 11, 1981
In July 1977 he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in his right big toe. His Rastafarian religious beliefs did not allow for amputation. He sought alternative therapies as the cancer spread to the rest of his body. He died in 1981. Read more

Stuart Matis Age: 32 Los Altos, California	Suicide February 25, 2000
He was raised a devout Mormon. His church told him his homosexuality was wrong and he was advised to undergo reparative therapy. He committed suicide and wrote in his note that he hoped his church would learn to accept homosexuals. Read more & more

Infant McCourt Age: 0 South Carolina	Died (prolonged delivery) July 1987
According to the coroner, the baby died due to lack of oxygen because of prolonged delivery. The county pathologist said the baby most likely would have lived if the mother had had prenatal care and medical attendance at delivery. Read more

infant McDowell Age: 0 Billings, Montana	Died January 1979
Religion (End Times Ministries) Read more

Marie Meade Age: 63 Lake City, Florida	Died (untreated breast cancer) October 24, 1985
Marie was married to Charles Meade, the founder of End Times Ministry. They believe in faith rather than medicine, so she refused treatment for breast cancer for 2 years. After she died, her husband remarried 28 days later. Read more

Will Meyers Age: 16 Lake City, Florida	Gravely ill for 7 months October 22, 1990
Will had a variety of health problems that went untreated, and his weight dropped from 135 to 90 pounds. Finally his parents took him to a hospital and a heart operation saved his life. They were charged with felony child abuse and put on probation. Read more

Caleb Moorhead Age: 6 months Auckland, New Zealand	Died (malnutrition) March 2001
Calebs parents, devout Seventh-Day Adventists, tried to feed him using a vegan diet and herbal remedies. He died of a Vitamin B12 deficiency. His parents were sentenced to five years in jail. Read more & more

Alex Dale Morris Age: 4 Oregon City, Oregon	Died April 16, 1989
He had fever and congestion. Members of his church anointed him with oil and laid hands upon him, praying for 46 days. A medical examiner later said the boy would have been "overwhelmed with fever and pain" and basic antibiotics would have cured him. Read more & more

Clayton Nixon Age: 9 Altoona, Pennsylvania	Died January 6, 1991
He got an ear and sinus infection that caused severe vomiting. His family belongs to a church that believes the Bible opposes all medical and surgical practice. He died weighing only 32 pounds. His parents were charged. Read more

Aaron Norman Age: 10 Spokane, Washington	Died (untreated diabetes) December 1987
He died of untreated diabetes. His family belongs to a church that believes "sickness is a result of sin and a wicked lifestyle." His father was convicted of manslaughter. Read more

Carla Northrup Age: baby Wilmot, Indiana	Died (untreated pneumonia) 1983
Her family belonged to Faith Assembly, a church whose death rates among infants was 270 percent higher than the statewide average. Read more

Jordan Northrup Age: 4 months Redding, California	Died (meningitis, pneumonia) January 1991
Religion (Church of the First Born) Read more

Bonnie Parker Winnsboro, Louisiana	Died, spend thousands of dollars
She believed a televangelist could cure her cancer, and she spend thousands on his ministry. Meanwhile, the evangelist spent $20 million on a private jet that was used for personal vacations. She died, and now her daughter would like answers. Read more

Wesley Parker Age: 11 Barston, California	Died (untreated diabetes) 1971
An itinerant preacher had declared the boy healed. He later died of untreated diabetes. Read more

Aqsa Parvez Age: 16 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada	Murdered by her father December 10, 2007
Aqsa grew up in a Muslim family in Toronto. She disagreed with her father over whether she should wear a traditional head scarf in Canada. He murdered her in a rage. Read more

Billy Ray Reed Age: 3 days Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated congenital heart defect) July 2000
He died soon after birth of a common congenital heart defect. His parents belong to a church that believes in prayer rather than medicine. Read more

John David Ricks Age: 9 months Kimmel, Indiana	Died (untreated bacterial meningitis) April 7, 1990
His parents were members of Faith Assembly. When he got a treatable infection, they never sought medical care. He died within days. Read more & more

Samuel Robidoux Age: 11 months Attleboro, Massachusetts	Starved to death April 26, 1999
His father was the leader of a sect that rejects modern medicine. Samuel was fed only with breast milk, but since his mother got pregnant again there wasn't enough to nourish him. He starved to death. His father was sentenced to life in prison. Read more & more

Ricky Rodriguez Age: 29 Tucson, Arizona	Suicide after committing murder January 9, 2005
Ricky was a member of a cult whose leader approved sex between adults and children. That left Ricky with psychological problems that led to his murder/suicide in 2005. Read more & more

Joel Romine Age: 20 months Wilmot, Indiana	Died (emphysema) March 1989
His parents "do not believe in seeking medical treatment and instead prayed at home for the child's recovery." He died of emphysema. Read more

infant Ruzicka Age: 0 Brandon, South Dakota	Died February 1981
The mother was in labor for four days and had convulsions. The baby was stillborn. Read more

U.S. Congressman Leo J. Ryan Age: 53 Port Kaituma, Barima-Waini Guyana	Murdered November 18, 1978
Visiting Guyana to investigate reports of abuse within a cult that had many members from his district, Congressman Ryan was murdered as he attempted to leave the country. Read more

Carie & Joshua Sealy Age: 12 days, 15 months Lansing, Michigan	Died (untreated pneumonia) March 11 & 20, 1982
She was born at home and was jaundiced and having seizures, but her parents did not seek medical help. He was sent in for court-ordered surgery to remove a large tumor in his abdomen when the court intervened after her death. The father was convicted Read more

Rubel Sheikh Age: 25 Bagerhat, Bangladesh	Died August 20, 2008
He and his mother traveled 30 miles to a shrine to a Muslim saint. The tradition is to offer food to the crocodiles in the pond and to bathe in the water. When he waded into the water, he was attacked by the crocodile and killed. Read more & more

Lisa Sheridan Age: 5 Cape Cod, Massachusetts	Died (untreated meningitis) 1967
Religion (Christian Science) Read more

Christy Sitton Cortez, Colorado	Died (untreated diptheria) 1974
Religion (faith healing) Read more

Brian Sproul Cortez, Colorado	Died (untreated diptheria) 1976
Religion (faith healing) Read more

baby boy & baby girl Still Age: 0 Germantown, Pennsylvania	Died February 1989
Deborah Still gave birth to twins without aid of a doctor or midwife. They were six weeks premature, but this is 95% survivable in a hospital. The girl died within 8 hours and the boy died the next day. Read more

Angela Sweet Age: 7 Olathe, Colorado	Died (untreated appendicitis) June 1990
Religion (Church of the First Born) Read more & more

Caleb Tribble Age: 1 Northland valley, New Zealand	Died (untreated kidney infection) December 5, 2004
When Caleb was sick, his parents chose to pray rather than take him to the doctor. His infection went undiagnosed and he died. His parents were charged with a crime. Read more

Robyn Twitchell Age: 2 Boston, Massachusetts	Died (twisted bowel) April 1986
Faith healing (Christian Science) Read more & more

Shauntay Walker Age: 4 Sacramento, California	Died (meningitis) March 8, 1984
She died of a treatable illness. Her mother, a Christian Scientist practitioner, was asked why her daughter was not vaccinated but her dog was. She responded that the law required it for the dog. Read more

Andrew Wantland Age: 12 LaHabra, California	Died (untreated diabetes) 1992
Andrew had diabetes, but his father was a Christian Scientist. He decided to pray over the boy, rather than seek medical treatment. Andrew died of complications of diabetes. Read more

Clay Whitmer Age: 34 Los Altos, California	Suicide March 20, 2000
He was raised a Mormon and was gay. This drove a rift between him and his family. When his good friend Stuart Matis threatened suicide, he planned to talk him out of it but did not arrive in time. Distraught, he took his own life. Read more

Loren Williamson Age: 5 Loranger, Louisiana	Died (untreated leukemia) June 1989
Religion (Church of God) Read more

Joel Winkelman Age: 3 weeks Ohio	Died (untreated pneumonia)
His parents believed that "the best physician is Jesus." He died as an infant of pneumonia without receiving medical treatment. Read more

5 Winterbourne family members Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Died (pneumonia) 1971 - 1980
Religion (Faith Tabernacle) Read more

Caroline Wise Age: 31 Perth, Australia	Died after childbirth May 1, 2001
Religion (Born in Zion) Read more

Sean Woodrun Age: 6 months Nobles, Indiana	Died (untreated pneumonia) April 1990
Religious cult (Faith Assembly) Read more

Kyra Wright Age: 10 months Cortez, Colorado	Died (untreated viral pneumonia) 1997
Religion (faith healing) Read more

Clayton Scott Zimmern Age: 9 Park Forest South, Illinois	Died (untreated accident injuries) 1968
Religion (Christian Science) Read more

137 Blackfeet reservation residents Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Browning, Montana	Measles 1985
One child whose parents claimed a religious exemption from vaccination was the source of a measles outbreak that affected 137 people. Read more

190 Canadian children Agassiz, Kent, BC, Canada	Mumps February - August, 2008
A religious community with a low rate of vaccinations was the source of a mumps outbreak. 116 Confirmed and 74 suspected cases occurred in a region that normally has 10. Mumps is easily preventable via vaccine. Read more

3 newborn boys Age: 8 days Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, New York	Death, herpes infection, brain damage 2003 - 2004
A mohel in New York inadvertently infected several boys with Type 1 herpes by performing metzitzah b'peh, a circumcision technique used mainly in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. One of the boys died, another suffered brain damage. Read more & more

5 children Arizona	Died 1979 - 1983
Religion (Christ Miracle Healing Center) Read more

50 Catholics in India Age: 12 - 60 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India	Blinded February 22, 2008
Seeking a vision of the Virgin Mary, they looked up at the sun for great lengths of time. Blindness and permanent retinal damage was the result. Now local churches are disavowing the "miracle" as victims pour into hospitals. Read more

6 children Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Died (untreated measles) 1991
Religion (Faith Tabernacle) Read more

6 people Amazon basin, Brazil	Tortured, Murdered November 14, 1998
Religion Read more

76 people Waco, Texas	Died April 19, 1993
When ATF agents showed up at the Branch Davidian complex in Waco to serve a warrant, the members of the sect were not cooperative. The situation spiralled out of control and tragedy resulted. Read more & more

778 cult members Kanungu District, Uganda	Mass murder March 17, 2000
The leaders of this Ugandan church predicted that the world would end on January 1, 2000. Church members sold all their belongings and stopped work to prepare. When nothing happened, the situation spiralled toward disaster. Read more & more

913 people Jonestown, Guyana	Mass murder/suicide November 18, 1978
Jim Jones led a popular church called the People's Temple, but became increasingly paranoid that a nuclear holocaust was imminent. He moved the entire church to Guyana. When people came to ask questions, tragedy ensued. Read more & more

96 people Indiana & Ohio	Died 1960 - 1990
Religious cult (Faith Assembly) Read more & more

"Cook Islands boy" Age: 6 New Zealand	Died July 2000
Surgeons removed a brain tumor, but his parents refused the follow-up radiotherapy on religious grounds. Five months later his tumor grew back and he died. Read more

"John Doe" Age: 25 Hayden, Idaho	Self-amputated hand January 5, 2008
This man saw a mark on his hand he hadn't seen before. Based on Matthew 5:30 and Revelations 14:9, he decided to cut off his own hand and microwave it. Read more

"Jordanian woman" Age: 30 Shuneh, Jordan	Murdered by her father January 7, 2008
Even though she is 30 years old, her father objected to her dating in this very conservative Bedouin town. He confessed to killing her to "cleanse" his family's honor. He was charged with murder. Read more

"Aisha Salim" & 24 other women England	Painful "revirginization"surgery 2005 - 2006
Muslim fundamentalists insist that women be virgins when they marry. Many women in England are undergoing painful "revirginization surgery" that costs up to £4,000, simply to meet this expectation. Read more

Return to the list of topics

What's the harm in religious fundamentalism?

Saundra Arnold

Justin Barnhart

Amanda Bates

Jacqueline K. Beagley & her baby

Ishmael Berger Belebbas

Allyson N. Bergmann

Michael David Boehmer

John Wayne "Punkin" Brown Jr.

Daniel Brown

Jacob Brown

Jeremiah Brown

Jonathan Brown

Melinda Brown

Sarah Brown

Desiree Camren

Cedar Grove Methodist Church

Libby Cooke

Eric & Laura Cottam

Travis Drake

Micaiah Edwards

Patrick Foster

Hobart Freeman

Melinda Sue Friedenbeger

Sarah Handy

George Went Hensley

Sonia Hernandez

Harrison Johnson

Juliana Keys

Kyle Lake

Jason Lockhart

Linda F. Long

Rev. Dwayne Long

Ian Lundman

Bob Marley (musician)

Stuart Matis

Infant McCourt

infant McDowell

Marie Meade

Will Meyers

Caleb Moorhead

Alex Dale Morris

Clayton Nixon

Aaron Norman

Carla Northrup

Jordan Northrup

Bonnie Parker

Wesley Parker

Aqsa Parvez

Billy Ray Reed

John David Ricks

Samuel Robidoux

Ricky Rodriguez

Joel Romine

infant Ruzicka

U.S. Congressman Leo J. Ryan

Carie & Joshua Sealy

Rubel Sheikh

Lisa Sheridan

Christy Sitton

Brian Sproul

baby boy & baby girl Still

Angela Sweet

Caleb Tribble

Robyn Twitchell

Shauntay Walker

Andrew Wantland

Clay Whitmer

Loren Williamson

Joel Winkelman

5 Winterbourne family members

Caroline Wise

Sean Woodrun

Kyra Wright

Clayton Scott Zimmern

137 Blackfeet reservation residents

190 Canadian children

3 newborn boys

5 children

50 Catholics in India