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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

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

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

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

"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