'God can heal' adverts banned

[naomi24]

The Advertising Standards Authority has banned adverts carrying the message "Need Healing? God can heal today!’ The Authority says the adverts, which emanate from churches in Bath, are misleading, irresponsible, and could encourage false hope.

A spokesman for the church said "It seems very odd to us that the ASA wants to prevent us from stating on our website the basic Christian belief that God can heal illness’.

In claiming that ‘God can heal today’, I imagine the church could well find itself facing complaints from a lot of disappointed customers, so is this advert a simple statement of belief, or is it irresponsible and likely to mislead - and does it encourage false hope?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...and-somerset-16871116

[albaqwerty]

If the believers want to pray to help someone then that's OK with me.

However advertising that 'God 'can heal is a different kettle of fish

[venator]

Anyone with any gumption knows that the message is " we believe God can heal", but by listing specific illnesses, they are going a bit beyond that, and have laid themselves open to a complaint that they are offering some kind of treatment.

The ASA only acts on complaints, and the people who have complained should have better things to do.

[beso]

I look forward to the day when the claims by the church are bound by the Trade Practices Act.

As it is now they can make ridiculous claim for which they have absolutely zero supporting evidence.

[ll_billym]

/// They claim to have people that backup and prove their claims, yet cant make them materialise for interview ever.///

This is surprising as most of the time - as with a lot of 'alternative treatments' the user is (hopefully!) also receiving conventional medicine. Of course it is the alternative treatment that gets the credit.

Another angle is that I have a bad cold, I pray to God/Satan/Whoever to 'heal' me, 2 weeks later my cold has gone. Amazing.

Of course the most sinister aspect to all this is when people forgo conventional medicine and stick to praying or whatever, then they die. This is of course worse in the case of all the dead children whose family did not give them a choice. An alternative ending (no pun intended) is when they finally decide that God/Healing stones actually don't cut the mustard so decide to go to the hospital, by which time it is too late, then they die.

Dead customers can't complain.

[Baldric]

Praying for sick people if that's your thing is OK,
Giving a list of Health problems which can be cured is a different matter altogether, a vulnerable person suffering from a listed condition might well chose prayer over Medical intervention which would most likely not have a good outcome.

[ludwig]

It's an interesting precedent, because there must be tons of religious literature which is equally "misleading, irresponsible, and could encourage false hope. ".

Like all the watchtower leaflets etc that come through the door. The bible itself even.

[Zeuhl]

^^
But the ASA is specifically there to regulate advertising.

The rest of us have to ensure our work is legal, decent, honest and truthful oten by supplying detailed evidence to support any claims or implications.

These delusional cultist need to face up to the same criteria of factual evidence.

After all, many financial swindlers of the past have sincerely 'believed' that their schemes will pay out - even though they couldn't provide a rational explanation at their trial.

[Davethedog]

OOH NOO a bad day for Jebus

[DTCwordfan]

"The Son of God was born."

Was he?

Prove it.

ASA declaration issued.

No more mention of that then at Xmas.......

[Zeuhl]

^^

that's not a claim of effectiveness
just relating a story

no more illegal than 'Harry discovers he's a wizard'
or 'once upon a time'

[DTCwordfan]

the follow up is advertising along the lines of

"Come and join in the celebrations for the birth of the Son of God" (or synonymous statements)

[Zeuhl]

^^

only illegal if there are no celebrations

No more illegal than 'come and celebrate Joan Collins 40th birthday' :-)

[jomifl]

when is (was) that?

[DTCwordfan]

lol jomifl.

Joan Collins exists, the Son of God does not; and especially the Son of God message becomes an ad when money is mentioned...£5 to enter the event.

I think Joan Collins exists, mind you, or is she a figment of our imaginations?

[Zeuhl]

She's a product of her Surgeon's imagination :-)

[jomifl]

If god could heal, surely he would start with all those people suffering from religious mania.

[Old_Geezer]

World of difference between "can" and "will".

[Zeuhl]

^^

Not in advertising

If you ran an ad that said

'invest with me - i can triple your money in one week'

you would be asked to provide verified evidence you can do that for every applicant based on your current results.

[Old_Geezer]

Was it a profit making business ? You may ask God for the evidence if you wish.
This is perilously close to restricting religious freedom.