"My colleague Brendan O'Neill writes that "If Christians are not free to say 'God heals', then there is no religious freedom in this country". He berates "authoritarian literalists" at the Advertising Standards Authority for banning a Christian group from claiming in a leaflet that God can heal (and I quote) "Back Pain, Arthritis, MS, Addiction … Ulcers, Depression, Allergies, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Paralysis, Crippling Disease, Phobias, Sleeping disorders or any other sickness".
Brendan describes the ASA's decision as an "outrageous attack on freedom of religion", saying "policing the expression of an inner conviction, of a profound belief in the healing qualities of God, is ludicrous and authoritarian." It'd be different, he says, if it was Pepsi or a homeopath claiming to cure disease, but since it's a religious thing, it's an expression of faith and thus should be allowed."
Read full article here: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100135398/why-should-religions-be-exempt-from-advertising-rules/
Is it right that religious groups should come under the same category as companies and service providers? Should religions be able to make healing claims? Do people only dismiss them anyway? Are some people more vulnerable or susceptible to these claims?
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