"The parents told deputies they locked the child in the room because he was possessed by demons."

[cleanhippie]

In rural Canadian County, Sheriff’s deputies say they found the worst case of child abuse they have ever seen. Lawmen say the parents, Edward and Krystal Everett, locked their little boy up in a bare room. When deputies discovered him Thursday, they say he was in the fetal position covered in bruises.

Neighbor George Heupel drives past the quiet, country home. He says he was clueless. “I wouldn’t even treat my animals that way,” said Heupel.

Investigators say the parents kept the six-year-old in a room with a small mat to sit on and a bucket to use the bathroom. Investigators also say the parents only came in to feed him once a day and to shock him with a cattle prod.

The parents told deputies they locked the child in the room because he was possessed by demons. They claimed he heard voices and hurt himself.

“It’s really an outrageous case of child neglect,” said Undersheriff Chris West.

Three younger children were in the home too. Lawmen rescued them all.

http://kfor.com/2014/05/16/deputies-oklahoma-child-abused-locked-up-like-wild-animal/

And religion played NO PART in this whatsoever, right?

[Shrike47]

1. Well, I'd say probably not, it just gave them a framework for describing him.

He's evil, in their eyes. They use the vocabulary they have available to explain why they did those things to their child.

[cleanhippie]

2. If the foundation of their delusion came from their religious beliefs, then religion played a part.

Or am I missing something here?

[Ed Suspicious]

3. I think he's saying the that if they were athiest, or even took no position on

religion whatsoever, they would have found a way toward a similar outcome. It is mental defect of the parents that led to their abuse of their son.

I don't necessarily agree, but I can see it as a possibility.

[skepticscott]

4. Then there should be plenty of instances you can cite

of atheist parents abusing their children and attributing it to some manifestation of their atheism. Because there have been plenty of examples of religious parents doing things like this, just on this board, and recently. If this has nothing to do with religion, it should be happening among all parents equally, right?

Enlighten us.

[cleanhippie]

5. If they were non-believers, then demonic possession wouldn't have been used as the excuse.

The point being, demonic possession is a religious construct.

[struggle4progress]

21. What do you know about their religious beliefs, the religious beliefs of the person

who called the police on them, the religious beliefs of the police who arrested them, the religious beliefs of the state personnel who removed the other children from the home, or the religious beliefs of the Oklahomans who established the laws allowing these interventions by government employees?

[Warren Stupidity]

16. " it just gave them a framework for describing him"

that would be a foundational[\b] part.

[2pooped2pop]

6. He probably does hear voices and hurts himself

after being in solitary confinement and such terrible living conditions.

[Cleita]

7. Situations like this make me wonder just how much oversight the state

should have over parenting. I'm mostly of the opinion that moms and dads know what's best for their children and will provide them with all the love and support they are capable of.

But...then situations like this arise and it makes me wonder just how much of a nanny state we need here when dealing with our most vulnerable and helpless, our children. When I lived in South America, extended families and close ties with nosy neighbors usually nipped any emerging abuses in the bud providing there weren't any external interferences like gangs or militias upending communities.

However, we live in single family islands with relatives not close by and often neighbors unknown so this kind of thing can happen unnoticed.

[cleanhippie]

8. It seems that most often, these cases come from hyper-religious families.

Perhaps that's a place to start?

[Cleita]

9. True. Yet I went to parochial school.

Some families were more devotedly religious than others but I never knew of any one of those kids being abused or accused of being possessed by the devil. This seems to be more cultish behavior. Maybe that's a place to start, investigating cults, especially those that are secretive and shut out all outsiders.

[cleanhippie]

20. Defining just what a cult is seems to be difficult.

My definition is likely broader than yours and would include people that would insist that THEY are not in a cult.

[rug]

10. And you claim this is mainly due to religion?

[Cleita]

11. I think cults are involved. Cults would attract the mentally unbalanced

people who would engage in extreme punishments and practices. There needs to be oversight here by the state or even the by the MS church synods. I just don't know how it could be done.

[rug]

12. Do you think cults are distinct from religion?

[Cleita]

13. Actually yes.

But why don't you explain to me what you think the differences are or aren't so I know where you are coming from and I can explain to you what I think the differences. Suffice it to say many cults aren't about spiritual beliefs at all but follow the same model of fanaticism. So that's a hint of what I think is the difference.

[rug]

14. Sorry, Cleita, I meant to reply to cleanhippie.

He starts these flamewars but rarely answers the questions.

[smartphone]

15. A book to look into: Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment

Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment

This revealing, disturbing, and thoroughly researched book exposes a dark side of faith that most Americans do not know exists or have ignored for a long time—religious child maltreatment. After speaking with dozens of victims, perpetrators, and experts, and reviewing a myriad of court cases and studies, the author explains how religious child maltreatment happens. She then takes an in-depth look at the many forms of child maltreatment found in religious contexts, including biblically-prescribed corporal punishment and beliefs about the necessity of "breaking the wills" of children; scaring kids into faith and other types of emotional maltreatment such as spurning, isolating, and withholding love; pedophilic abuse by religious authorities and the failure of religious organizations to support the victims and punish the perpetrators; and religiously-motivated medical neglect in cases of serious health problems.

In a concluding chapter, Heimlich raises questions about children’s rights and proposes changes in societal attitudes and improved legislation to protect children from harm.

While fully acknowledging that religion can be a source of great comfort, strength, and inspiration to many young people, Heimlich makes a compelling case that, regardless of one’s religious or secular orientation, maltreatment of children under the cloak of religion can never be justified and should not be tolerated.

I see you're a thoughtful person, and want some change to this horrible status-quo that lets religious people escape prosecution for their rationalizations for barbaric action under the guise of religion.

Just a suggestion for further reading. Some people have been studying this issue for years, and this author has produced an excellent book on this topic.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161614405X/ref%3Das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwfriendlyat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=161614405X

[Cleita]

18. Thank you. I'm always looking for interesting things to read.

Years ago I read a book about an ex-Moonie. His family actually had to break him out bring him back from the brainwashing. He details the abuse he and others were subjected to yet they mentally couldn't break away. The Unification Church is a huge organization but doesn't deserve the designation of a religion because it's nothing more than a money making operation to keep the few in charge in luxury. These are the organizations that should be investigated and monitored for abuses especially to children.

[struggle4progress]

17. "All four children have been put into protective custody"

Couple accused of locking child in room, abusing him
Posted: 6:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2014
By Michael Purdy

[temporary311]

19. At least they didn't kill him.

And looks like he was removed from their custody before it could ever come to that.