What God Wants, God Gets, God Help Us All

[elfs]

Wait, I'm confused. In a recent case in Oregon, a man divorced his wife, converted to Judaism, and then decided that his son, who's 12, should be circumcised in accordance with his faith. The courts have sided with the father over the mother.

Even though the father made this lifestyle choice late in life, his claim is that his authority as father (and fathers have authority under Jewish law) allows him to make this life-altering choice for his son.

On the other hand, 14 year old Dennis Lindberg, who only recently converted to Jehovah's Witnessing, a religion his parents do not share, was allowed to refuse all blood tranfusions and died today due to leukemia. Lindberg made his lifestyle choice late in life at the urging of an aunt, and despite being under the authority of both parents, has died because of his refusals.

In one case, the child's wishes are irrelevant; in the other, they are tantamount. In both cases, the authority rests with the person claiming religious conviction. I don't get it. Since when does Yaweh get veto power in our secular court system?

Comments

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

I don't have any comment on the first case, as another already pointed out the salient feature. In the second case, however, I think society has an interest on encouraging people who want to remove themselves from the gene pool for religious reasons to do so, especially if they have not actually spread any of their genes yet.

[rhonan.livejournal.com]

Icons want to be free!