(via Raw Story)

When we hear about the extremes some Muslims go to when they punish spouses or children, a lot of Christians quickly blast the faith. It’s funny how quickly they forget a lot of the same “punishments” are also taught in the bible, but not Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz:

Three years ago, Kevin Schatz and his wife Elizabeth did something so noble, a local television station featured them; the pair decided to adopt three children from Liberia. Now, they’re accused of killing one of the children because she mispronounced a word.

Prosecutors say that the California couple used quarter-inch plastic tubing to beat their seven-year-old adopted daughter to death. 

Apparently, they got the idea from a fundamentalist Christian group, which promotes this as a way of training children to be obedient.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey says for several hours the 7-year-old was held down by Elizabeth and beaten dozens of times by Kevin on the back of her body which caused massive tissue damage. 

“It was torture,” says Ramsey. 

Another 11-year-old adopted child was allegedly critically beaten for “being a liar and a bad influence on the 7-year-old.” 

Religion can be a good thing and a bad thing. When it’s good, it’s very good for people. It gives them purpose in life, as well as an extra sense of pride. But many fail to see the bad side of religion and that bad side is present in all religions.

This heart-wrenching story is a perfect example of that bad side of religion. You have people that took preachings to the extreme and that resulted in a dead 7 year old and other children who will be scared, emotionally and physically, for the rest of their lives. And while we see stories like this, that prove even Christians can go to extremes, they are quickly dismissed. You have other Christians, intolerant enough to ignore this heinous crime yet point out the extremes fundamentalists from other religions might go to.

So what would be the best way to describe this form of violence engaged by extremists? Well if you are one of these children, then only one word comes to mind – terrorism.

The next time someone tries to tell you that there is no such thing as terrorism in the Christian faith, here’s a perfect example to use that proves them wrong.