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When a faith-healer commands God to perform a miracle, in the absence of a prayer that says, 'Thy will be done,' it is, as far as I am concerned, the most rank form of arrogance . . . The faith-healer Bosworth once said that faith makes God act. If you follow that line of reasoning God is in His heaven, but Bosworth rules the world!
C. Everett Koop
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the arrogance of assuming control over divine power through faith without acknowledging God's will.

C. Everett Koop criticizes the notion that human faith can compel God to act according to our demands, pointing out the arrogance in such belief. He argues that true humility involves recognizing and submitting to God's will rather than attempting to dictate it, suggesting that such attempts can misplace the understanding of faith and divine authority.

Themes

FaithArroganceDivineHumilityPrayer

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a discussion about the ethics of faith healing.

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