#Faith Has #NothingToDoWithGod! It's a HUMAN Faculty (Described in the classic #ThinkAndGrowRich), not the Verbal Snake-Oil that @CopelandNetwork-et-al. are Selling! | @PrayerDotOrg @CABarticles @Microsoft #Faithful

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Tell where to send email-alerts when I update the source-finding here

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I'm outraged. The 'Prosperity Gospel'-monkeys have taken their imaginary powers too far, I think. Maybe I'm overreacting here; so just let me get this out. (Read through to the bottom for my sincere apology.)

First of all, they dupe themselves into thinking 'prayer changes things'—NO! Prayer changes only one thing ... something that the pray-er's entire world hinges-on–perception–but nothing real (unless someone hears the prayer and changes their perception and possibly their actions).

But they continue. Because they're not following "reason"; they're following Faith. They pray that a situation will turn their way, and that builds up their faith in that positive outcome.

Like ... take for-example Kenneth Copeland's private jet. (Now I don't know if this story applies 'specifically to him & -his jet' or to another Prosperity Gospeler & some other expensive machine) When he prayed to get a private jet, he didn't go looking for it in the bathroom of the tiny apartment he used to live in; he went and reserved a hangar to put it in.

That is where he put his Faith. Like my patron Saint (and one of Jesus' brothers) teaches—'it doesn't matter what you believe until you back it up with action!' (paraphrased, of course).

All this 'dreck' they're blabbering about 'believing in Jesus' Name to carry us through the plague (whose name they do not mention, except to call it by 'the human body's reaction to it') ... it marks them as 'those to whom The Christ will say, "Go away! I never knew ye!"'

'That word' (below-hyperlinked to a more reasonable post about the system of-which 'Faith' is only a crucial component—like fuel in a car) is built on an even-deeper source ... something crucial that firms the foundation upon which the our lexicon stands ...

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The word “Faith” is built on “to Trust, Confide, Persuade.”

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Napoleon Hill tells us that 'Faith' is one of three "emotions" that 'color' thoughts in order to transmit them directly to the subconscious mind—when 'someone in whom you have Faith' tells you about something that happened, your brain receives it as if you actually witnessed the happening (rather than 'as "just somebody telling you a made-up story"').

Already, your mind (if it's anything like mine) is 'interrupting' with 'the standard-definition you've heard again-&-again': either the 'Faith is the substance of things hoped-for, the evidence of things not seen'-definition that Bible-quoters love, or (particularly if you're an atheist) the old slightly-wrong 'Faith is belief without proof'-definition (which they'll then imply also means 'belief in spite of conflicting evidence.')

But Hill clarifies ... not by denying either of those, but by affirming the way Faith works: 

And–before he describes 'the principle of auto-suggestion'–he gives us an 'auto-suggestion template' to sign your name to, commit to memory & repeat aloud once a day, with full FAITH that it will gradually influence your THOUGHTS and ACTIONS so that you will become a self-reliant and successful person:

1. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life; therefore, I DEMAND of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here-and-now promise to render such action.
2. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and will gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become—thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.
3. I know through the principle of auto-suggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object behind it; therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of SELF-CONFIDENCE.
4. I have clearly written down a description of my DEFINITE CHIEF AIM in life, and I will develop sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.
5. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless built upon truth and justice; therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity; because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I believe in them and -in myself.

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Oh, I don't mind that Kenneth Copeland Ministries et al. drape 'that human faculty' in all their magic-show distractions (the names of The Friendly Angels & -Ghosts who make the unseen natural processes do what they naturally do anyway). But 'what pushes me to write this'–"the straw that breaks the camel's back"–is their false talk about the current President of the United States!

In his recent letter to the partners, Brother Kenneth writes:

President Donald Trump has become a war president. This war, however, is a war against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and wicked spirits in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:12). Thank GOD, President Trump is a man who loves God! He remarked that he wanted to be remembered as the president who prayed more than any other. Vice President Mike Pence is leading prayer groups in the White House every day. President Trump's personal spiritual advisor, Paula White-Cain, is a prayer warrior. This nation is in good hands.

This!... It ... it makes me think of The Hebrews (the slaves-of-Egypt) who prospered under Pharoah's whip. It's upsetting that Brother Kenneth is misusing The Word. I always read Eph. 6:12 as 'an anti-government sentiment' (especially as its context involved government-persecution of The Church)—Donald Trump is only important to us (today) because he is serving as a 'Principality & Power!'

Coronavirus is nothing like a "principality, power, ruler of darkness, nor wicked spirit" and is nowhere near "the heavenlies" (it's transmitted in droplets from the coughs & sneezes of carriers—the reason why you clean 'the surfaces of your groceries & -of other deliveries you receive' and not 'the air above them.')

'Comedy-anchorman' John Oliver "pokes fun at Brother Copeland" (again, a few times) for the 'zany beliefs' Brother Copeland espouses—the ritual Brother Copeland uses to keep his hair jet-black, the way Brother Copeland 'kicks COVID-19 out of his house,' a few other ways ...

Because Brother Copeland & his family/followers are (they would agree with 'Comedanchor' Oliver & myself ...) "acting like children" (... though they would put it in the context of "Yep, Children of Our Father who art in Heaven," while those of us who see clearly would put it in the context of 'Those Youngsters who Still Believe Their Magic Angel hears their Wishes & Waves its Pixie-Wand to make them All Come True').

Apology—and no, that's not "I'm sorry;" but rather, that I understand and ask that you understand–that I'm coming to this 'from a radical direction,' the reason I "dissent" whenever someone online insists that they- or their ailing friend-or-relative-'needs yer prayers'–that you don't care whether "the process" is true, as long as you get "the ending outcome" you want (they don't pray because it changes God's plans, but rather to remind themselves that God's plans are right).

I don't think God sent coronavirus, but God allowed humans to take coronavirus and to spread it around the world; for God knew that the humans God created had the strength to 'kick it out.'

Or maybe I'm looking at it wrong—that's one reason
 Our Father God said "It is not good for the man to be
 alone":  "Because the man'll think he's right until someone else shows

 him why he's not"—Won't you show me
 if I'm right-or-wrong in the comments below?