Calm down, Slag. My concept of God is not in play here. That's because it has nothing to do with the subject being debated. I have not volunteered "my" concept of God. You are premature in rejecting it because you don't yet know what it is.

What I did was to give my understanding of a common 'American' understanding of religion, which is that "a little religion is a good thing," but if someone actually takes it seriously and wants to apply their literal understanding of not just Christianity but any religion, then they are likely to be perceived as a kook, or in your terms, as a psychopath.

You are assuming that the preservation of physical life should be a priority. The parents were assuming that the preservation of spiritual life, perhaps involving admission to some future life is the priority. We (you, me and them) won't know who's right until one of us dies. (After you, Alphonse.)

In the meantime, there is indeed a connection between what you said about God giving us dominion (again, I'm not giving you 'my' interpretation, I'm commenting on someone else's) and the idea that the parents could have exercised a lot more discretion. I would venture to suggest that that connection was not as clearly established in your post as you might think it was, but it's there, yes, you get points for that.

Just let me try to make my point again about how there are Biblical admonitions about fearing not those who can kill the body, but rather fearing those who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Regardless of whether or not I believe that, the statement is there, and it would seem to be pretty cut and dried from the standpoint of somebody who lacks your fine sense of discrimination.

As I said, It's not that the parents didn't learn. It's that they weren't taught.

Now, how 'bout dialing back on the preachiness and not trying to bite my ankles any more until you figure out where I'm coming from?? :)

CC