The constitutional guarantee of religious freedom has often butted heads with the state. Though religious freedom was once the cornerstone of this country, its position has slowly eroded. The state has justified this by what the law has turned into another god: science. The area of children's health and well being had become one of the major battlegrounds with religious freedom at the center The unwillingness of many Christian Scientist parents to get help from physicians for their critically ill children has led many to painful and unnecessary deaths and, increasingly, to legal actions. In almost every state today, when the parents fail to seek medical treatment for a child based on the parents" own religious perceptions of the best interest of the child or their most fervent religious beliefs, the state can and should intrude and the parents should be prosecuted criminally.
Most people who have heard of Christian Science know one thing about it: Christian Scientists do not " believe" in doctors. More accurately, Christian Scientists do not believe in medical science, nor allow their children to receive medical attention. They believe they can heal through prayer. Victor Westberg, the official spokesman of the church says, "we pray differently." But the dictionary definition of "faith healing" makes no such distinctions. Christians Scientists practice faith healing as Webster's defines it: " A method or practice of treating diseases by prayer and exercise of faith in God." .
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Since the 1960's there have been increasing numbers of members of other denominations, who have been charged with crimes for turning to prayer rather than to medicine for their kids. Jehovah's Witnesses teaches that blood transfusions, even if needed to save a life, must not be accepted. This teaching is base upon three passages in the Bible which prohibit the consuming of blood. Genesis 9:4: " but flesh with .
