LONDON, ENGLAND — Faith is just as important to many refugees and internally displaced people as water, food and air, said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“By preserving a person’s faith, we help preserve their future,” he said.
Addressing the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, England, on July 2, Elder Holland called on non-governmental organizations, governments and faith groups to refocus their efforts in responding to the personal and family crises suffered by refugees and internally displaced people.
“In the past, charitable institutions have provided financial support, medical treatment and other physical needs for refugee victims, all of which are still needed," said Elder Holland, addressing an audience at the Chatham House. “But we now understand that we must look to emotional and spiritual needs as well.”
That sounds like a guy protecting his $32 billion stock portfolio.
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
“But we now understand that we must look to emotional and spiritual needs as well.”
That’s an interesting phrase coming from someone supposedly acting under divine guidance. Why did he, as an Apostle, not understand that before the Windsor Conference issued a report?
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
Faith and hope is important, but we're talking about faith and hope in good things that have not happened or true things we cannot see. OTOH, faith in ideas which have been disproven, or which are harming others, or which are a fundamental userption of the personal autnomy of others, is not more important than food and water and is worse than poison.