Is the Bible Therapy?
EmailIn North Dakota there is a group that thinks so. It runs the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch for troubled youth, and the core of its program involves helping kids through spiritual counseling, Bible readings and religious services.
"Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is dedicated to helping at-risk children and their families as an expression of our joy and faith in Jesus Christ, following Christ’s example to serve the needs of others," it says on its website.
That would be just fine–except that the ranch receives referrals from state agencies, and has received about $7 million in government funds over two years. It’s now being sued by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group which describes itself as a "national association of nontheists…working since 1978 to promote free thought and defend the constitutional principle of the separation of state and church." They’ve posted more about their suit HERE.
Part of their complaint: "The Dakota Boys & Girls Ranch indoctrinates children to believe they need ‘a close relationship with God" and that "Christ chose to love, live, and die for all people, and that Jesus sits at the right hand of God.’
"Children are disciplined for refusing to participate in the spiritual aspects of their therapeutic treatment plan."
The ranch says it does not coerce kids: "It is the philosophy of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch that healing, recovery and restoration begin as our clients’ spiritual, physical and psychological needs are identified and met."
The New York Times has a piece on this HERE. AP’s version is HERE. The ranch association’s president tells them 70 percent of his budget is government money.
Good medicine? Or a violation of church and state?
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Why is a Wisconsin organization suing North Dakota regarding funding for an treatment facility that is in…North Dakota?
What stake do they have in this anyway, other than trying to make much ado about nothing?
Posted by: Dave | June 21, 2007, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
The comment “the ranch receives referrals from state agencies” shows two things: 1) they are providing a service that they should be paid for and 2) the state believes they can help the young people referred to them. This sounds fair to me.
Now let us look at it a different way. I have worked with young people in state child protective custody. Finding real help for them is a very tough issue. I am not referring to the providers that use the system as a money maker but to the few who really want to improve the child’s life.
Instead of attacking another organization, let the group suing start their own program and show how they would do it better. Now that is a suggestion I don’t think they would have the guts to try; but, if the do, then the hurting children would have even more help. Finding help for them is the real problem.
Horatio
Posted by: Horatio | June 21, 2007, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
And what will happen when a Muslim group wants to fund a Medrasa with state money? How many people will think its a great idea then?
Posted by: Gordon | June 21, 2007, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
Freedom from Religion? how about freedom from rouge organization’s terrorizing the public with their politics.
How sad is it to see at-risk youth having a much needed program interfered with by just another anti-Christian organization– its perverse.
Posted by: tev | June 21, 2007, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Just an aside for anyone who may be interested: there is NO Constitutional basis for the “separation of church and state.” None whatsoever. Read the document yourself, and what is will find is what is referred to as the “establishment clause”. Here is the exact wording from the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. That’s it – there will be no Official State Religion, and if you want to worship the Sacred Ant of Hisbolemium, no one will stop you. Notice, however, that there is nothing here that says the government cannot provide support to organizations that perform a public service, even if those organizations are religiously based. If the government allowed support for one, and only one, particular religion’s programs, and refused to support similar programs run by other religions, THAT would be a violation of the clause, as it would create a defacto state religion, even if that intent was not bluntly stated. By the way, for the record, I am not a Christian, but I have no problem supporting a program run by those folks as long as it is effective and available to all. This whole thing is a bruhaha based on a complete misunderstanding of the simple words the framers used when the Constituion was written. I often wonder what the motivation is for those who howl about “separation”, when that is clearly NOT what the framers intended. Perhaps Lazarus Long was right: “A committee is a life-form with at least six legs, and no brain.”
Posted by: Walker Evans | June 22, 2007, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
It seems it is only bad when it is a Christian organization benefiting, further proof that Christianity is under attack. Hold firm Christians!
Posted by: Scottsdale Insurance | June 23, 2007, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Finally, someone who realizes that christians are under attack! Ever since pray was taken out of school, how much has the violence rate risen? How many school shootings were there when there was a daily reminder that morals are good? How many other religions are discriminated against (and I mean discriminated against) the same. I agree with the lack of a state religion, but the sentiment can be taken too far when one organization can be denied money to help children on the sole basis that they support a religion. That the case can even be taken seriously is outrageous!
Posted by: concerned | June 23, 2007, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Evans: as long as the services provided by the organization are open to all and they fulfill a vital need, I have no objection to the state government funding it. I see no violation of either the “establishment clause” or the “free exercise clause” of the First Amendment.
Posted by: chuck | June 25, 2007, 8:56 am 8:56 am
This program doesn’t establish a state religion, and it does not prevent individuals from exercising their religion of choice.
There’s no constitutional violation.
Posted by: Fabio Escobar | June 27, 2007, 7:17 am 7:17 am
I am a Sunday church-goer, and I go in with Hope, and I leave feeling a sense of Security. A security in my troubles, debts, ailments, and family. I have learned alot in the past few weeks, where the gospel, when read, doesn’t make too much sense to me. Yes, they are stories, and experiences of the period, but, when translated and explained by the priest, it makes the story enlightening. I learned that you don’t make deals with God, and I learned that He loves the poor man a little better, because he has not experienced all the love and wealth like a rich man. I use these to lessen my prejudices, and I include prayer in everyday experiences. Thanks for reading. Steve
Posted by: Steve Medellin | July 3, 2007, 1:26 am 1:26 am
You people really don’t get it, do you? This camp has every right to help children any way they see fit, until tax dollars come into play. Atheists/agnostics/etc. also pay taxes. What makes you Christians feel you have the right to my tax dollars?
Posted by: tom rogers | July 4, 2007, 4:59 am 4:59 am
to concerned who posted above:
a government funded relogious organization is a far cry from prayer in school… one is volunteers exposing themselves to prayer, the other is subjecting religion upon students who are obligated to attend school. also, have you heard of the term anti-semitism, as well as being aware of the current negative connotation being a Muslim has in society? christinity is a religion, but not the only one (and not the only one being attacked)
Posted by: Sam | July 5, 2007, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
The treatment of people in need has often been to treat three of the four areas of humankind’s growth which are the physical,mental,and social areas. However, few recognize the fourth area which is the spiritual. A Christian openly recognizes this fourth area and attempts to deal with it in a balanced way. Given enough difficulty in circumstances, even the Atheist is inclined to cry out to God. I have often heard it said, there are no athesists when the bombs are dropping around you. When an organization treats all four growth areas, they are treating the common ground and adding the balance of the spiritual. Even AA attempts to do this. If the organization has passed the approval test of those members of local government who must decide “to fund or not fund” their decision should stand without the second gusessing of those outside the decision process. Dealing with all four growth areas of life is critical for every man, woman, and child in the world. Concerned? Measure the results. Can’t wait for results? If you are not part of the decision process, butt out! Look around,it is the Christian laws of this country that allow for your dissent.
Posted by: Another Dave | July 6, 2007, 8:55 am 8:55 am
The use of tax money to support any religious endeavor is wrong, unconstitutional, and foolish. To the person who encouraged us to read the Constitution (with his interpretation) I suggest you read what the founding fathers had to say about Christianity. Not just Jefferson, but Adams, Washington, and others. They were vehemently opposed to the evils of Christianity.
Supporting religion with tax money is wrong for another reason as well. Governments place is to defend it’s citizens rights and protect them, not to support the irrational belief in an evil Sky Fairy like the demon-god of the bible. Christianity under attack? No, just reason taking the fore. Personally I attack all religion because it’s anti-human.
Posted by: Flonkbob | July 6, 2007, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
The Bible, in the chapter of Yitro, says: “…And all the people saw voices…” i.e. the words of the Bible can be seen. A research revealed that the color palette the Bible consists of 72 colors, including infra-red and ultra-violet. A deeper research revealed that the words of the Bible can be seen as flickering light, which pulsates within Alfa, Beta, Teta and Delta diapasons waves of the brain activity. The Website bible.visnsoft.com is dedicated to the unique capability of the Bible to improve vision, reduce stress and depression and expand creative and mental abilities. Here you find information about the visual phenomena and flickering colors of the Bible, the Bible energy code, Jewish horoscope and the Bible software i.e.light color therapy software using the Bible energy code and Jewish horoscope for improve vision, reduce stress and depression and expand creative and mental abilities.
Best regards
Shaul
Posted by: Shaul Baskin | November 27, 2007, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm