'Life Of Brian' replayed on SBS World Movies this arvo. The funniest move ever made. mhaze, which character do you most identify with?

To me the various religions can be viewed like I view people.
Some I like what they do and how they work for/with the local
community.
Some are isolationists, and try to isolate their members from others.
Some seem to be mad and have beliefs that are not good for their members.
However, we should not try too hard to dissuade them.
However when a religion gets to the point where they offer you the
choice of joining them, being a 2nd class citizen and paying a tax or
being put to death, then that is beyond any acceptance by anybody.
You know who I mean by that.
So far it does not seem to have reached that point here.
History shows that sooner or later it will be a factor.
Those that leave some of these radical religions are cut off from their
families & friends.
Those types of religions are marked by intolerance of other religions.
That seems to be a key marker of the worst religions.
A key to the best religions would be to accept the sinner as a flawed
person and through the offer of frendship guide him to peace.

mhaze (the first I'll reply to),

<<Did anyone read the actual article about the incident?>>

Well yes, I wouldn't post an article I didn't read.

<<The women suffered depression and anxiety prior to joining the church. Clearly the meds she was getting weren't of much help otherwise she wouldn't have been seeking other solutions.>>

There are several key aspects that need to be addressed. While it's true that the mother in question had pre-existing health issues, the fact remains that her decision to follow the church's teachings — was a significant factor here.

The crux of the issue lies in the fact that the church's doctrine prohibited medical intervention and with the treatment she was seeking at one stage she dropped out of and later took her own life. She actively avoided the medical care that might have alleviated her symptoms.

You also need to understand that medical care is not something that is addressed overnight. I have a medical condition that took seven years to address to the state I was sound health wise. It's not something you can afford to have affected by outside individuals. It needs to be between you and your specialist, not others with no medical expertise.

<<And now we have a daughter who, for many years, abandoned her mother and now seeks to assuage survivor's guilt by moving the guilt elsewhere without any evidence.>>

You are placing the blame on the victim. Any suggestion that the daughter is merely seeking to place guilt elsewhere is unfair. Plus, she was involved with the church for a long time. I think she knows what she's talking about.

There are real consequences of religious/cult dogma when it intersects with life and death decisions and the church/cult here must be responsible for their actions in this case.

As pointed out by me previously, you would get in more trouble for stealing something like a loaf of bread, milk or a can of coke. The responsibility level is not level and some people get away with too much!

There isn't the slightest suggestion that the women was forced to join or stay in the church. We're not talking Scientology here. The daughter, it appears, was able to walk away without any problems and the mother had the same option.

She decided to stay. She decided to abide by the tenets of the church to which she was devoted. Doing that may have contributed to deepening depression but there is no evidence for that other than the daughter's assertions.

Equally the death of the son and the abandonment by the daughter may have contributed to the depression and suicide. No one knows and no one will know. The daughter's mere assertion that it was the withdrawl of the meds isn't evidence although you and the ABC have decided otherwise.

BTW you say I'm victim blaming here. Apparently you think the daughter is the victim!! You should note that claiming victimhood isn't the same as being the victim. The victim is the mother. But a victim of what we'll never know.

Again, the women decided to stay in the church of her own volition. No force. No coercion. She had free will and used it. She;s allowed to do that in a free society.

" mhaze, which character do you most identify with?"

Well I'm certainly not the messiah but I am "a very naughty boy!".

But if I had to identify with one character it'd be Naughtius Maximus.

Lead me not into temptation ...

Oh hell, just follow me,
I know a shortcut!
(smile).