August 22, 2014 by David K. Sutton
Ebola Survivor Dr. Kent Brantly: God Saved My Life
I know this blog post is going to make me an asshole.
Before I piss everyone off, I want to hail Dr. Kent Brantly as a true hero, someone who helped treat others even though he knew he was putting himself at risk. I don’t have the guts to do what he did, and I’m glad there are people like Dr. Brantly putting their skills to good use and effecting positive change in the world.
Now, here’s the part where people start booing, hissing and throwing objects my direction.
I take issue with some of Dr. Brantly’s remarks to the press after his recovery from Ebola. I can sense the religious already reaching for their pitchforks, so be it. Here’s the specific remarks I take issue with:
Through the care of the Samaritan’s Purse and SIM missionary team in Liberia, the use of an experimental drug, and the expertise and resources of the health care team at Emory University Hospital, God saved my life — a direct answer to thousands and thousands of prayers. – Dr. Kent Brantly
Until the last part of that phrase, there was nothing wrong with his statement. All of the people involved in treating Dr. Brantly deserve our highest regard, just as Dr. Brantly deserves our deep thanks for the work he does. But after he acknowledges the hard work, diligence, and compassion of all involved in his recovery, he then says, “God saved my life.” Bullshit. Those people saved your life! They are not working through God. They are not minions doing God’s work. They are dedicated human beings, good at what they do, and yes, they just saved your life. Am I the only one who finds this kind of thinking incredibly demeaning to humanity? At this point, I’m no longer picking on Dr. Brantly, and I’m setting my sights squarely on those who credit God with every good deed, instead of the living, breathing human beings who truly deserve the praise.
Flame at will.
