--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [When things go badly] Instead of…" description: "\"“[When things go badly] Instead of becoming alienated from their faith in God, wouldn't it make more sense for them to become alienated from their misl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/william-sloane-coffin-4839_faith_when-things-go-badly-instead-of-becoming_1479577.png" --- # \[When things go badly\] Instead of becoming alienated from… ![“[When things go badly] Instead of becoming alienated from their faith in God, wouldn't it make more sense for them to become alienated from their mislaid hopes in human beings, alienated from shallow notions of automatic progress, from sentimental notions about the 'nobility of man'?” quote by William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/william-sloane-coffin-4839_faith_when-things-go-badly-instead-of-becoming_1479577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/william-sloane-coffin-4839_faith_when-things-go-badly-instead-of-becoming_1479577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/william-sloane-coffin-4839_faith_when-things-go-badly-instead-of-becoming_1479577.png) > ““\[When things go badly\] Instead of becoming alienated from their faith in God, wouldn't it make more sense for them to become alienated from their mislaid hopes in human beings, alienated from shallow notions of automatic progress, from sentimental notions about the 'nobility of man'?”” [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages shifting disappointment from divine faith to misplaced human expectations and false progress narratives. **In simple terms:** Focus on faith, not false hopes. Key Takeaway Reevaluate what you truly trust. Themes faith hope disillusionment humanism progress Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - community leadership - ethical decision making Key Concepts existentialism spiritual resilience critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What expectations of humanity cause you pain? - How can you nurture trust in the divine? A Different Perspective Faith may not protect against all suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-god/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Without close and reciprocal relationships with other animal beings, we're alienated from the rich, diverse, and magnificent world in which we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/without-close-and-reciprocal-relationships-with-other-animal-beings/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [I got to a point where I referred to myself as Dolores of the Cranberries instead of myself because I alienated my real self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/i-got-to-a-point-where-i-referred-to-myself-as-dolores-of-the/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [“Do what Thou wilt! 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