368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages

What's the harm in believing in rituals?

Many people engage in rituals outside the confines of organized religion. Often these get people into trouble. Read more about rituals

Here are 70 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.

Rowan Douglas Cooke Age: 37 Gammon Ranges, South Australia, Australia	Died November 3, 2004
He passed out while using a native american sweat lodge and his friends thought he was astral travelling. They used rituals to try to wake him up. In reality he was extremely dehydrated and died at a hospital. Read more & more

Maya Devi & her baby Age: 28 / newborn Uttar Pradesh, India	Died April 23, 2008
Because she is considered an "untouchable" in her country, she was refused treatment at the local hospital at a medical college. She gave birth outside, and the baby died within minutes. She died the next day. Read more

William James Age: 47 Patchogue, Long Island, New York	Died (gunshot) March 8, 2004
During a social club ritual initiation, someone mistook a fully loaded gun for one loaded with blanks. He died of a gunshot wound. Read more

Bando Mitsugoro VIII (Kabuki actor) Age: 68 Kyoto, Japan	Died January 16, 1975
The liver of the fugu fish is widely known to be toxic, but he believed he could survive the poison. He ate four of them as a demonstration. Within minutes he died of paralysis and convulsions. Read more

Mohamed Ibrahim Kader Mydin & Rosina Mydin Pillay Age: 47 & 41 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Killed October 2, 2008
They were visiting family members when a male relative suggested their habit of smoking (and other ills) could be cured by being ritually beaten. The beating resulted in their deaths and several injuries, and many family members were arrested. Read more

Monika Rani & Rajesh Kumar & son Age: 22, 36 & 3 Markham, Illinois	Murdered (arson) December 29, 2007
Her father was upset that she had married someone of a lower caste, and her husband had not asked permission. He set fire to the apartment complex, killing three and leaving dozens of others homeless. It was said to be an "honor killing". Read more & more

Amina & Sarah Said Age: 17 & 18 Lewisville, Texas	Murdered by their father January 1, 2008
Their father was Egyptian, and critical of American lifestyles. He became upset with their dating and murdered them in an "honor killing". Read more & more

Budour Ahmad Shaker Age: 12 Minya, Egypt	Died June 2007
She died of an overdose of anaesthetic while undergoing a female circumcision (female genital mutilation). Her death led Egypt to ban this practice entirely. Read more

Alysha & Kendra Suing Age: 8, 10 Sioux City, IA	Died January 6, 2008
Their stepfather was performing "some strange ritual" but the house filled with smoke. Firefighters were called and found the children in a smoke-filed bedroom. The stepfather was charged. Read more & more

13 family members Age: 2 weeks - 55 Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa	Died September 21, 2008
All but two members of this family died when they were administered a deadly herbal concoction during a cleansing ritual by a 17 year old trainee healer. Read more & more

"Jane Roe" Age: 14 Pabre, Burkina Faso	Died September 17, 2007
Even though Burkina Faso was one of the first countries to outlaw female circumcision (female genital mutilation), it still occurs. This girl was cut by an 80-year-old woman who was arrested. Read more

Rowan Douglas Cooke