I remember visiting relatives in Idaho, and going to a church service there. One of the men had advanced (untreated) skin cancer that had destroyed his face. They were faith-healers, and for them, going to doctors was a sin, punishable by hellfire. So this gentleman was the subject of earnest prayer, that he might be "delivered from his affliction." He was celebrated for the strength of his faith, that he had not sought medical treatment. And in the end, when he died of the disease -- as I'm sure he did -- his failure to attain a full recovery would have been attributed to "insufficient faith."
This is so sad and unfortunately, too common in certain religions. The church I attended was similar with regard to faulting the person for their lack of faith. They believed that if your prayers were not answered (no matter what they were for) then it was because your faith was not rock solid and therefore, your fault.
I had a cousin of the Christian Science faith who did not believe in medicine and doctors. God will cure him. He died suddenly of an appendicitis burst. It was his children who never understood.
how do they explain all the pastors who held unmasked services and then died of covid?
In the church I had to attend they always used the fallback of “God’s ways are not our ways” as explanation, justification or rationalization.
It can be even worse than that.
I remember visiting relatives in Idaho, and going to a church service there. One of the men had advanced (untreated) skin cancer that had destroyed his face. They were faith-healers, and for them, going to doctors was a sin, punishable by hellfire. So this gentleman was the subject of earnest prayer, that he might be "delivered from his affliction." He was celebrated for the strength of his faith, that he had not sought medical treatment. And in the end, when he died of the disease -- as I'm sure he did -- his failure to attain a full recovery would have been attributed to "insufficient faith."
That is so sad. Why do they think the deity created doctors?
Doctors are learned men, who are filled with the sin of pride, and the Devil created pride.
That would be their answer.
Actually, that type of response was given often.
Yes. I was not exaggerating, or being snarky.
This is so sad and unfortunately, too common in certain religions. The church I attended was similar with regard to faulting the person for their lack of faith. They believed that if your prayers were not answered (no matter what they were for) then it was because your faith was not rock solid and therefore, your fault.
I had a cousin of the Christian Science faith who did not believe in medicine and doctors. God will cure him. He died suddenly of an appendicitis burst. It was his children who never understood.
I am sorry for your & their loss.