A radical shift from conventional medical practices to faith-based home births.
Carol Balizet, the founder of Home in Zion Ministries, is a pivotal figure in a movement advocating for natural home births guided solely by prayer and faith, rather than medical intervention. Born in Zion, her influential book, serves as a manual for this approach, promoting a return to what Balizet perceives as God’s perfect plan for childbirth. This article explores the origins, beliefs, and practices associated with Born in Zion, as well as the controversies and criticisms it has faced.
Origins and Beliefs
Carol Balizet, a former emergency room nurse with extensive experience in various medical fields, felt called by God to leave the medical system and dedicate herself to promoting natural childbirth methods. Through Home in Zion Ministries, she has been involved in over 800 “Zion Births,” which eschew all forms of medical assistance in favor of prayer and divine healing. Balizet’s teachings, as detailed in Born in Zion, are deeply rooted in a Pentecostal Word-Faith theology, emphasizing the power of words and faith to influence physical outcomes, including the process of childbirth.
Practices
The core practice advocated by Born in Zion is the complete avoidance of medical intervention during childbirth. This includes rejecting doctors, hospitals, medication, and even prenatal care in favor of a faith-based approach that places all trust in divine intervention. Balizet’s stance extends to viewing medical care as inherently sinful, equating the use of drugs to sorcery, and interpreting Caesarean sections as a form of idolatry. This radical perspective has drawn followers seeking a more spiritual childbirth experience, as well as criticism for endangering the lives of both mothers and infants.
Criticisms and Controversies
Born in Zion and Carol Balizet’s teachings have been met with significant criticism from both the medical community and fellow Christians. Critics argue that her interpretations of scripture are heretical, and her dismissal of medical care is dangerous, potentially leading to preventable tragedies during childbirth. Concerns have been raised about the risk of complications without professional medical intervention, with some warning that such practices border on negligence.
Moreover, Balizet’s belief that reality can be shaped by faith alone has led to practices where serious complications during childbirth are denied or attributed to demonic influence, further endangering lives. The movement’s stark rejection of medical science in favor of a purely faith-based approach has drawn the attention of cult watchers and concerned Christians alike, who worry about the influence of Balizet’s extreme teachings on vulnerable followers.
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