1 year old dies of starvation because he did not say "Amen"

United States
August 18, 2008 1:02am CST
(pasted from MSNBC/Associated Press) BALTIMORE - After denying Javon Thompson food and water for two days because he wouldn't say "Amen" after meals, the 1-year-old's caretakers waited for a divine sign that their message had been heard: a resurrection. For more than a week, police say in charging documents describing the scene, the child's lifeless body lay in the back room of an apartment. Queen Antoinette, the 40-year-old leader of a group that called itself 1 Mind Ministries, brought in her followers and told them to pray. God, she said, would raise Javon from the dead. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26242454/
14 people like this
32 responses
• Indonesia
18 Aug 08
he is still so young! i don't think a one-year-old child is 'eligible' for committing sins or evils. not saying amen is not a sin or an evil anyway. god create and provide everything we need: food, drink, air, water, our body and its wonderful parts, medical science, anything. all of those are from god. all of those are miracles. why do we still expect such a miracle?
3 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 08
sutan, i love your response and its so true, so many extraordinary things pass us up day after day, heck, if we could experience the wonder of watching the earth spin could we still think the same, I doubt it and it would blow our minds apart with all its stiff assumptions and comformities. It sounds like this cult, or what you choose to call it, is not very knowledgeable and Amen in Hebrew meaning just means "So be it" or "let it be" and I guess these people thought their religion worked liked magic where they use the magic words and miracles appear but I agree with sutan that God has denied us nothing and I believe Jesus' main message that their is no need to ask for anything and its all a matter of us choosing to see our blessing right in front of us--this is my quest to open my eyes to this. This incident just looks like nothing but a power trip on the adults part and no adult in their right mind would put up with something so silly and its tragic that such a tiny baby had to be a victim to this desperate attempt to be in charge--sometimes we let the ego lead in the name of God, its a shame.
@ronreyes (4724)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
This is why I hate religion sometimes. Especially those people who are overly religious that they would do anything for the sake of it. I don't think God would let a person die of starvation for not saying a single word.
3 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 08
yeah i know.. especially that young.. or any age
• China
19 Aug 08
100%agreed with you! And I think that's a horrible result of ignorance in the 21st century.
@pitstop (13745)
• Australia
19 Aug 08
They were a part of a cult. God teaches us to be disciplined in our ways but also to think logically and love our children. The kind of behaviour shown by these parents was not from God- they were brainwashed into extreme measures by the cult. Can't the cult be held responsible in addition to the parents and officially disbanded.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 08
i hope that something happens to the cult.. its not like the mother was there alone
@nancyrowina (3850)
18 Aug 08
It's awful to hear about these situations when they come to light, but I think it's one situation where you can't blame religion. It doesn't say anywhere in the Bible that infants should be denied food and water for not saying Amen, these people were nuts and were making it up as they went along. I find it hard to feel sorry for the mother too as anyone knows how quickly a baby dehydrates and if she just stood by and watched as they denied her son food and water she is just as guilty as the rest of them.
3 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 08
yeah i dont think that you can blame that on brainwashing.. the start of it might have been but she had two days to snap out of it and realize that it was crazy.. i would hope no ones mind is so simple that it could be manipulated that easily with such a dangerous idea
1 person likes this
@aidenw (632)
• United States
18 Aug 08
i'm totally speechless. this is a perfect example of how a religion can destroy people's minds and lives.
3 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 08
yep.. whats messed up is they think we are the crazy evil ones
1 person likes this
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
18 Aug 08
How could anyone in their right mind expect a 1-yr old child to say "Amen" after each meal? They are barely learning to talk. To me this was out and out murder! Yet another cult committing murder supposedly in the name of "God" or whatever divine being they supposedly worship. Maybe they should have all food and drink taken from them for a few days and see how it feels. I hope that everyone who participated in this horrid thing gets convicted for murder abd put away for life.
• United States
19 Aug 08
yeah but if we were to take away their food they would prob be the type that fast and wouldnt care lol
• Canada
19 Aug 08
That is sad and sick. I can't believe that anyone would do that to someone. Cults are too strong and powerful. I know a few people in my life who would be easy prey if they weren't watched closely, and I've told a few of them exactly that. I have done many things in my life but keeping my mouth shut was never one of them, and for that I am extremely thankful.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
same here
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
9 Dec 08
Oh dear another story of religous fantatics. This is pure fundemantalism and religous ignorance. Hearing and reading such stories really makes me sad. I hope God would have established a more direct line with him to curb all these abuses.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Dec 08
seems like they are everywhere and multiplying now a days
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
21 Nov 08
What a friggind idiot! The child is alive and well and they starve the poor baby. And she thinks praying will help resurrect the baby? Has she gone nutty in the head? Religion is a way of life to guide you towards the path of right. Not a miracle cure all for everything! Silly people!
• United States
21 Nov 08
i told you that these cults had a resurrection obsession lately
1 person likes this
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
19 Aug 08
Sometimes I wonder why some people lack common sense,and blame it on God. The poor little kid !
• United States
19 Aug 08
you mean people can be responcible for their own actions?? i always thought everything was everyone ELSES fault i hate people using anything as a scape goat
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
18 Aug 08
Poor little angel :*(
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Aug 08
i know.. at least he is away from all those crazy people now
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
18 Aug 08
Yeah, I can see that is at least a small blessing. I am not sure what will happen to his parents but it will not be enough I am afraid.
1 person likes this
@clarizz (354)
• Philippines
19 Aug 08
how sad.... this is just a child... how could they do this... hes just only 1 year old! he even don't know what "amen" is?! i am so upset.
• United States
19 Aug 08
even if he did its an outragous thing to do
@almae01 (111)
• Spain
19 Aug 08
Hello, that is really sad, poor little baby, how can people lose their minds like that? i mean, a person has to be crazy or sick to be able to let another person, especially a child die of starvation!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
its not like they could ignore his suffering
@Zelda414 (149)
• United States
19 Aug 08
God help us all! who would even think of doing something so awful to an innocent life one blessed by God. they are crazy, children are precious innocent angels in Gods eyes and he wont take lightly to something like this. The poor angel, i know he is in a better place being taken care of and fed n clothed n loved so much in heaven. i am pregnant with my 2nd child, my son is 11yrs old and i can not for the life of me understand why people would think or do the haneous act they do to children. I am praying for this world. i would starve myself and go without before i ever let my child go without food or water or anything.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
yeah i know it makes me sick thinking that everyone else was eating and not the kid
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
19 Aug 08
It is this sort of behaviour that makes me think that religion has gone too far and should be gotten rid of, I see all the things that is going on because of religion and i think what ever the if anything this is not what I think was what religion is all about anyway...man made views on religion is causing more non religious acts, it has lost touch of what it is all about....this is just disgusting....
• United States
19 Aug 08
i totally understand.. i have a bad past with religion and how i grew up so it just sickens me with every story i hear and there seem to be more stories than ever now a days
@rsa101 (38148)
• Philippines
19 Aug 08
Oh that is just too bad. The parents just used their power as a leader of their church to somehow evade him from his wrongdoing. But I hope the police would arrest this parents as they have done a grievous crime against their own child.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
hopefully they arrest anyone that knew anything about it.. would be horrible if the leaders got away and only the parents got caught.. not that i think they should get away at all!!
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
19 Aug 08
That poor baby, how can people be so ignorant, they know a child needs water, and food. I don't care if the president said that he was evil or what not for not saying amen. I think the parents need to be seriously punished. Some people, I don't even know anymore...they just shouldn't have children. The life of an innocent child taken away, over one simple word. Unbelievable.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
even rosemary that had given birth to satans baby in rosemarys baby loved him.. (i know bad example lol.. just popped into my head)
• United States
18 Aug 08
i believe in God and i know some people have a desperate need for belonging and for someone else to tell them what to do, which is why religions are born. but, God! there is such a thing as common sense!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
sometimes common sense and religion dont go hand in hand
19 Aug 08
child abuse to the extreme go to jail do not collect 200 dollars go straight to jail
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
they better not get off for insanity or something
• United States
19 Aug 08
man, how is it that people buy into these stupid ideas. people are so crazy, they are so quick to shun new things but are also quick to accept unproven advice from totally unqualified people. i hate people.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 08
i know.. i like to think and believe that spiritual things can happen but i wont be an idiot about it lol