The truth is, that the concept of God which I had always…
““The truth is, that the concept of God which I had always entertained, and which I had accused Christians of teaching to the world, was a concept of a being who was simply impossible. He was infinite and yet finite; perfect and imperfect; eternal and yet changing - subject to all the variations of emotion, love, sorrow, hate, revenge, that men are prey to… What a relief it was for me, now, to discover not only that no idea of ours, let alone any image, could adequately represent God, but also that we should not allow ourselves to be satisfied with any such knowledge of Him.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote expresses the impossibility of fully defining God, highlighting contradictions in human concepts of the divine and the need to accept mystery.
In simple terms: God cannot be fully described; accept mystery.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty about divine nature.
Themes
theity
faith
humility
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- theological study
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Divine paradox
limitations of language
spiritual humility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile contradictions in your belief?
- What does accepting mystery mean for your faith?
A Different Perspective
Human language fails to capture the infinite.