# My brother-in-law is trying to kill himself with the power of prayer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369 "2008-12-02T17:57:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/101 "2008-12-04T14:48:49Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Up until now I just thought you were a misguided fool. This post proves that you are an unmitigated asshole. Psst, **kanicbird** is who everyone is irritated with. You responded to **kaylasdad99** who is a different person and a nice one at that. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/102 "2008-12-04T14:50:22Z")
**flight** , [here](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html) is a link to an article that supports what you remember. I was told of one much longer ago than 2006, and I’ll also try to find that one. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/103 "2008-12-04T14:52:01Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Aw, horseshit. > > He thinks his fucking sky fairies – who he also thinks has actual fights with invisible demons over control of shit that matters here on earth – means fuck all in the real world. And all his platitudes about how caring he is, is nothing but shit in your face because you don’t pray as well as he does. > > Fuck him. He’s an asshole. Horseshit indeed. You need to follow the thread more closely next time. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/104 "2008-12-04T14:55:36Z")
I have. And I’ve read his nonsensical rantings in Great Debates. He’s completely deluded. He has no grasp of reality and he has no business giving anyone medical advice. Or any advice at all for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/105 "2008-12-04T14:56:39Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Psst, **kanicbird** is who everyone is irritated with. You responded to **kaylasdad99** who is a different person and a nice one at that. Oh. Sorry\*\* Kaylasdad99\*\* … it’s that fucking “K” that threw me off. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/106 "2008-12-04T15:08:15Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > It’s called **growing up** , you dangerous, oblivious, fucking retard! The majority of children with ADHD stop showing signs of it after reaching adulthood. > > Jesus Christ! That’s like saying that you had a cold last month and the fact that you don’t have it anymore is god’s will! Cured dramatically in about 1 second in my 30’s while praying? No sorry your worldly explanations fall way short. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/107 "2008-12-04T15:15:50Z")
To the OP, allow me to fast forward your story, so you get a glimpse of what’s coming. My BIL, was first diagnosed with HBP a few years ago. Nothing tragic, it runs in the family. A little pill a day and some common sense eating has taken care of that for everybody else. He chose not to treat it. HBP led to kidney failure. Daily dialysis led to unemployment. A sedentary life led to overweight. Overweight and dialysis led to blood and bone infection. Bone infection led to hip removal. Hip removal led to wheelchair. Wheelchair has now led to him being 450 lbs of useless shit that my FIL has to lug around when he should be enjoying retirement. It is time for you to start praying. Pray for that motherfucker to die before his misery kills someone you do care about. I hope mine does, I really do. That way we could all enjoy some time with my FIL. Alas, every year the shitbag does threaten to die. Always around Christmas to fuck everyone’s festivities. Fucker can’t die in May like decent people. He also pontificates a lot trying to impose his churchy views on everyone. I always tell him to fuck off and save himself before he can save me. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/108 "2008-12-04T15:15:56Z")
God damn you’re stupid. e: not you, **Sapo** ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/109 "2008-12-04T15:19:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > You have someone who is trying to get cured through prayer, what is going to work better: > > - Telling them it’s a stupid idea - really does this work for you? > - Telling them go ahead do what you want and go off the meds > - Tell them about someone who God has cured, Let them know that this person who God has cured did not just go off meds, nor does he recommend it, but sought the Lord not the healing, over years the Lord did cure his condition. Hokay. Let’s start by process of elimination. Given that you already said > [@](#): > > But you try to sell people into bondage, through drugs. How many people are stuck in jobs because they need to maintain their health insurance, trapping people as slaves? The cost of drugs continues to rise, and drugs just maintain, they rarely cure, not to mention the side effects. God does not want this additional burden on your lives. we can rule out that third one as inconsistent with your stated position. Any further information on whittling the last two finalists down to one winner? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/110 "2008-12-04T15:19:28Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > God damn you’re stupid. > > e: not you, **Sapo** If you’re referring to me, I’d say it’s a fair cop in this thread. But I still think \*\*kanicbird \*\*is a fucking dope. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/111 "2008-12-04T15:20:11Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > God damn you’re stupid. > > e: not you, **Sapo** 😉 Quotes, my friend, quotes. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/112 "2008-12-04T15:21:21Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > If you’re referring to me, I’d say it’s a fair cop in this thread. > > But I still think \*\*kanicbird \*\*is a fucking dope. Haha. Dammit! No, I meant **kanicbird**. Sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/113 "2008-12-04T15:28:21Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > It is also the motivation of asking God, It’s just not Lord please get me off these meds, but Lord I want to live for You, I want Jesus to live in me and through me. It is the motivation behind the asking, and who you put first. God looks at your heart, not your words and your motivation must be pure. Are you just asking for your self, this will not work. You have to really accept Jesus as your Lord, placing Him first. I see. It’s blame the victim bullshit. A person is sick because they aren’t pure of heart, or haven’t met God’s standards, or some such. In any case, it’s the victim’s fault because they aren’t good enough to be given healing. Personally, I think that’s a load of crap. It’s a corrosive belief system that just further burdens the suffering. And it lead to people abandoning real medical treatments and dying of what are manageable and controllable conditions. What a heartless, evil attitude. You disgust me. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/114 "2008-12-04T15:36:54Z")
Wait… re-reading. Withdrawn. Wooshed. But **kanicbird** is a fucknugget. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/115 "2008-12-04T15:40:40Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Cured dramatically in about 1 second in my 30’s while praying? No sorry your worldly explanations fall way short. Your anonymous anecdotal evidence has convinced me! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/116 "2008-12-04T15:40:48Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Just as an FYI, if you suspect you’re diabetic or have friends/family who may be, you can get a free meter [here.](https://www.accu-chek.com/promo/us/avivaSkinsPromo.htm) I’m guessing other brands have similar offers. I’ve heard that even if you don’t see an ad, if you call the company and ask them, they’ll often send you a free meter. > > If there’s one thing I’ve learned about diabetes, it’s “never pay for a meter.” 😃 That’s mostly but not entirely true. Since the companies make their money by selling you the strips, they’ll throw in a meter given any reasonable excuse. But if you don’t have insurance and need to pay for the strips, it can be cheaper to buy the store brand meters at Walgreens or Walmart (not available free) and pay $40-$60 every month for strips. My brother-in-law has gone to the doctor, by the way; his daughter convinced him. Even God was less powerful than a crying 14-year-old girl. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/117 "2008-12-04T15:43:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I wonder who has killed more people over the years - Big Pharma or Big God? Oh, definitely Big Pharma. God is handicapped by not existing. If you change the contestants to Big Pharma and the believers in Big God, however… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/118 "2008-12-04T15:46:47Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > If you change the contestants to Big Pharma and the believers in Big God, however… Yeah, that was more what I had in mind. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/119 "2008-12-04T16:36:10Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > My brother-in-law has gone to the doctor, by the way; his daughter convinced him. Even God was less powerful than a crying 14-year-old girl. Well, thank God for that, at least. I hope he starts taking care of himself. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/120 "2008-12-04T16:40:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Even God was less powerful than a crying 14-year-old girl. Excellent news. To add on to some of the other discussions, my local pharmacy gave my husband a free meter because Medicare doesn’t pay the full cost of the expensive strips, so they make a little bit if he buys their strips but they lose money if he sticks with his Freestyle. There are new meters you can get that do a continuous reading around the wrist. We haven’t looked at them in at least a year, when they were extremely expensive, but I wonder if the price has possibly come down. And I can’t remember what else I was intending to say. Grr. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369.md?page=7)