Skip to content

Here is an example of what I mean. One of my professors…

“Here is an example of what I mean. One of my professors was far more enlightened than I in his consistent opposition to racial and gender discrimination, and yet this man was quite prepared to worship a God who, on the basis of little more than divine whim, divides all people into the elect and…” quote by Thomas Talbott
Download Open image
““Here is an example of what I mean. One of my professors was far more enlightened than I in his consistent opposition to racial and gender discrimination, and yet this man was quite prepared to worship a God who, on the basis of little more than divine whim, divides all people into the elect and the non-elect; he was quite prepared, in other words, to worship the worst discriminator of all. His response to the obvious moral objections was simply to dismiss them as instances of fallible human reasoning. Again, this professor’s understanding of revelation was far more flexible and sophisticated than my own; he was quite capable, for example, of either setting aside or reinterpreting Bible texts that seem to place women in a subordinate position to men. But he rejected as unbiblical any suggestion that all men and women are equal objects of God’s redemptive love. At first I found such a combination of views utterly mystifying; but over time, I simply lost interest in them and became bored. If God himself discriminates against specific individuals (the non-elect) in the more important matter of salvation , why get excited about the lesser forms of discrimination, or even the racial bigotry, to which we human beings are prone?””

Thomas Talbott

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author critiques a professor who opposes human discrimination yet accepts divine election, highlighting a moral inconsistency.

In simple terms: Rejecting one bias while embracing another is contradictory.

Key Takeaway

Align moral standards across all beliefs.

Themes

ethics theology hypocrisy

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • religious teaching
  • social justice debates
  • personal belief systems

Key Concepts

divine election human rights

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can moral consistency be achieved in faith?
  • What other biases might we overlook?
A Different Perspective

Divine doctrines are often interpreted subjectively.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Thomas Talbott

Explore all 16 Thomas Talbott quotes

More Gender discrimination quotes

Browse all 30 Gender discrimination quotes