Scientologists 'heal' Haiti quake victims using touch

Amid the mass of aid agencies piling in to help Haiti quake victims is a batch of Church of Scientology "volunteer ministers", claiming to use the power of touch to reconnect nervous systems.

Clad in yellow T-shirts emblazoned with the logo of the controversial US-based group, smiling volunteers fan out among the injured lying under makeshift shelters in the courtyard of Port-au-Prince's General Hospital.

A wealthy private donor provided his airplane to fly in 80 volunteers from Los Angeles, along with 50 Haitian-American-doctors, in a gesture worth 400,000 dollars, said a Parisian volunteer who gave her name as Sylvie.

"We're trained as volunteer ministers, we use a process called 'assist' to follow the nervous system to reconnect the main points, to bring back communication," she said.

Some doctors at the hospital are skeptical. One US doctor, who asked not to be named, snorted: "I didn't know touching could heal gangrene."

When asked what the Scientologists are doing here, another doctor said: "I don't know."

Do you care? "Not really," she said, wheeling an unconscious patient out of the operating room to join hundreds of others in the hospital's sunny courtyard.

“Because not everyone is in the same state of health, and because there remains more medical discoveries, science, and technique to be discovered.”

Ah, so you admit mere fallible mortals don't know all with their finite knowledge and opinions.

Do you really DENY that God is in control of any outcome? Really?

“Since you can't prove a negative, I deny no such thing. As the the person making the assertion, it is up to you to provide evidence supporting it.”

Many miracles happen all the time due to prayer. Studies have been done that those prayed for do better and still you deny all of it. He could tap you on the shoulder and you'd still deny Him.

A trained monkey can stitch someone up

“Really? You'd have no objection to a rhesus monkey performing surgery on you?”

Considering some of the doctors we have as fallible humans, I don't see where a monkey couldn't do as good of a job. In fact, when it comes to behavior animals appear to be more compassionate than many human beings to their fellow animals.

Prescribing antibiotics is not the sign of a mental genius.

When did I say that it was? You said “All ANY doctor can offer is their OPINION.” (which reminds me, you're still yelling, a violation of basic netiquette). My pointing out that doctors can prescribe antibiotics does not invalidate my point.

You try to imply that prescribing antibiotics is a sign of brilliance. It isn't and meither am I "yelling". As for etiquette, you might want to check the rules for your snotty replies. Heck, I find it amusing but you don't need to be a hypocrite in touting rules when you don't keep the rules yourself..

BTW, I am NOT yelling. Using upper case is MY style. If yelling could get through to you, I probably would, however I am NOT doing that in my replies.

Transplanting organs is NOT always successful and REJECTION is a major concern of doctors.

“Did I say it wasn't? This hardly invalidates medical science.”

You imply brilliance again and still can't give a rational reason as to WHY it works with some and NOT all the time with identical situations. God allows some to live and takes others, regardless of how brilliant YOU believe they are.

ADULT stem cell research has had more success with many medical diseases than all the glorious OPINIONS that you hold do highly.

“Please. Stop. Yelling.”

Again, I am NOT yelling. It appears you have little to stand on so little things, such as using upper case intimidate you. You already know I am NOT yelling so stay focused. I give you no o pity points for lame complaints or hypocrisy.

“Stem cell research, adult or otherwise, is a subset of medical science. That's what I'm supporting. You're undermining your own argument.”

No, I am not. I am indicating since you may not know ... that embryonic stem cell research hasn't worked and never will. My God doesn't approve of killing little human beings for self gain in this way. It is by using ADULT stem cell research that progress has been made. BTW your "logic" needs work too!

Ah but not all gods are equal ... so you give yourself away again.

“Give myself away? What am I trying to hide?”

Your ignorance is something you are pleased with.

Those who make real progress in the medical field have been humble Christians and the same is true of those that made breakthroughs in Science.

Absolutely, look at Christians like Albert Einstein, Alan Turing, and Richard Feinman!

LOL! Albert Einstein was a practicing Jew and believed in God. He was an impressive man. YOU do know that Christ was Jew?

The only reason Alan Turing is noticed as a foot note in history is because he is a homosexual. Are you also an expert in “gay” studies. Truly Alan Turing is not the caliber of people I refer to as making a major contribution to society. Perhaps to “gay” people he is important but to normal people he isn't worth mentioning. I take it you've never heard of Isaac Newton? That is the caliber I am thinking of.

Richard Feinman is another idiot. He's so egotistical, that he's trying to redefine science concepts to give his metabolism nonsense credibility. LOL!! For example, he's busy trying to redefine why a calorie is not a calorie. Apparently stored and potential energy don't’ fit well into his godless,leftist world.

“Er, waitaminute...”

It is a shame that all you library books have left out that nasty little fact. You see, those that seek true knowledge don't have to depend on pragmatism, or the EVOLVING of “truth”. You don't need to be uppity over how you would like to view your secular world.

“You're accusing me of being uppity?”

I hate to break the bad news to you but you certainly try to be “uppity” and as to why befuddles me. I find it amusing.

I have M.S. and take NO medicine as well as Graves’ disease. Dad is a diabetic and takes no medicine. He controls it with diet. I'd have no problem if he took medication.

“My, that's big of you.”

Ah, are we trying to sneak in a low personal attack? I have found that to be very typical of people like you. Don't worry about it, I judge the sources. Some people would upset me with your lack of compassion but YOU, don't bother me at all. Don't fret or even apologize. From people like you, I expect it. Your huge ego and unrestrained emotions are what fuel your replies. In this situation you despise me, because I have a God that is superior to all mere fallible mortals and KNOW He is real. I don't know why people like you, hate people like me so much. You could have Him as the focal point of your life too but instead you chose to hate Him and others that follow Him. Oh well!

...

You are free to ascribe anything you wish to the supernatural. I choose to do otherwise.

I have to say, you are a stubborn one.

So be it!

Ah, so you admit mere fallible mortals don't know all with their finite knowledge and opinions.

I never said otherwise.

Many miracles happen all the time due to prayer.

You are free to assert this, but that hardly makes it so.

Studies have been done that those prayed for do better and still you deny all of it. He could tap you on the shoulder and you'd still deny Him.

http://skepdic.com/prayer.html

Considering some of the doctors we have as fallible humans, I don't see where a monkey couldn't do as good of a job.

I don't know what more I can say to someone who appears to be arguing in all sincerity that a rhesus monkey can perform surgery as well as a human doctor. You do realize that this undercuts your credibility in this discussion just a wee bit, don't you?

You try to imply that prescribing antibiotics is a sign of brilliance.

I have said nothing from which one could reasonably draw such an inference.

It isn't and meither am I "yelling".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netiquette

"Another rule is to avoid typing in all caps or grossly enlarging script for emphasis, which is considered to be the equivalent of shouting or yelling."

As for etiquette, you might want to check the rules for your snotty replies. Heck, I find it amusing but you don't need to be a hypocrite in touting rules when you don't keep the rules yourself..

Please document that a "snotty reply" violates netiquette (not that I agree with your characterization in the first place). If you fail to do so, then you have not supported your accusation of hypocrisy.

BTW, I am NOT yelling. Using upper case is MY style.

If yelling could get through to you, I probably would, however I am NOT doing that in my replies.

"Another rule is to avoid typing in all caps or grossly enlarging script for emphasis, which is considered to be the equivalent of shouting or yelling."

I wouldn't yell at you, of course. That would be rude.

You imply brilliance again

Where? Please be specific.

and still can't give a rational reason as to WHY it works with some and NOT all the time with identical situations.

False assumption. The situations are not identical, therefore your point is invalidated.

God allows some to live and takes others,

An assumption on your part. Unwarranted, in my opinion, but your worldview is quite different from mine.

regardless of how brilliant YOU believe they are.

Please document where I characterized "them" as being brilliant. Be specific.

Again, I am NOT yelling.

"Another rule is to avoid typing in all caps or grossly enlarging script for emphasis, which is considered to be the equivalent of shouting or yelling"

It appears you have little to stand on so little things, such as using upper case intimidate you. You already know I am NOT yelling so stay focused.

"Another rule is to avoid typing in all caps or grossly enlarging script for emphasis, which is considered to be the equivalent of shouting or yelling."

It doesn't work because it's supernaturally prevented from working? Um, ok...

LOL! Albert Einstein was a practicing Jew and believed in God. He was an impressive man.

You said "Those who make real progress in the medical field have been humble Christians and the same is true of those that made breakthroughs in Science."

You then point out that Einstein was not a Christian. "LOL", indeed.

As for him be a "practicing Jew", let's hear from the man himself: "My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the basis of reward and punishment."

YOU do know that Christ was Jew?

No. Really?

The only reason Alan Turing is noticed as a foot note in history is because he is a homosexual.

Never heard of the Turing test?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_turing

Alan Mathison Turing was an English mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, and computer scientist. He was influential in the development of computer science and providing a formalisation of the concept of the algorithm and computation with the Turing machine, playing a significant role in the creation of the modern computer.

During the Second World War, Turing worked for the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, Britain's codebreaking centre. For a time he was head of Hut 8, the section responsible for German naval cryptanalysis. He devised a number of techniques for breaking German ciphers, including the method of the bombe, an electromechanical machine that could find settings for the Enigma machine. After the war he worked at the National Physical Laboratory, where he created one of the first designs for a stored-program computer, the ACE.

Are you also an expert in “gay” studies. Truly Alan Turing is not the caliber of people I refer to as making a major contribution to society. Perhaps to “gay” people he is important but to normal people he isn't worth mentioning. I take it you've never heard of Isaac Newton? That is the caliber I am thinking of.

You asserted that those who make breakthroughs in science are by definition Christians. Einstein alone invalidates that point.

Richard Feinman is another idiot.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_feynman

Richard Phillips Feynman was an American physicist known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as in particle physics (he proposed the parton model). For his contributions to the development of quantum electrodynamics, Feynman, together with Julian Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965. He developed a widely used pictorial representation scheme for the mathematical expressions governing the behavior of subatomic particles, which later became known as Feynman diagrams. During his lifetime and after his death, Feynman became one of the best-known scientists in the world.

He assisted in the development of the atomic bomb and was a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. In addition to his work in theoretical physics, Feynman has been credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing, and introducing the concept of nanotechnology (creation of devices at the molecular scale). He held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology.

He's so egotistical, that he's trying to redefine science concepts to give his metabolism nonsense credibility. LOL!! For example, he's busy trying to redefine why a calorie is not a calorie.

Since he died over 20 years ago, he must not be trying very hard.

You'll forgive me if I don't take you description of him as an "idiot" seriously.

Wow, you only yelled twice in one long paragraph. Well done!

As for the rest, please be assured that I don't hate you in any way. Frankly, I don't think you can imagine a number small enough to describe how little your opinion of me matters.

I'm going to leave it that. While it's been amusing to play with you, there isn't the slightest chance that anything one of us says is going to change the mind of the other one. I'll leave it to the studio audience to determine the reasons why.

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