--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surely the better way is to pursue a…" description: "\"Surely the better way is to pursue a generous orthodoxy, seeing disagreements in the context of the greater agreements which bind us together.\" — Alist..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_agreement_surely-the-better-way-is-to-pursue-a-gen_444423.jpg" --- # Surely the better way is to pursue a generous orthodoxy… ![“Surely the better way is to pursue a generous orthodoxy, seeing disagreements in the context of the greater agreements which bind us together.” quote by Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_agreement_surely-the-better-way-is-to-pursue-a-gen_444423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_agreement_surely-the-better-way-is-to-pursue-a-gen_444423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_agreement_surely-the-better-way-is-to-pursue-a-gen_444423.jpg) > “Surely the better way is to pursue a generous orthodoxy, seeing disagreements in the context of the greater agreements which bind us together.” [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A generous orthodoxy invites dialogue by framing disputes within shared values, fostering unity despite differences. **In simple terms:** Seek common ground before focusing on disagreements. Key Takeaway Prioritize shared values to reduce conflict. Themes tolerance dialogue unity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - interfaith discussions - political debates - team meetings - community projects Key Concepts theology ethics social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance shared values with necessary critique? - When does compromise dilute core principles? A Different Perspective May overlook deep doctrinal conflicts that need explicit address. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Better way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) [Better ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-ways/) [Disagreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagreement/) [Disagreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagreements/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Generous Orthodoxy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous-orthodoxy-2703491/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Agreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-agreements-3891211/) [Orthodoxy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodoxy/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing Disagreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-disagreements-3891212/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“A generous orthodoxy is like that. 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Usually it’s not something obvious;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-hitz/i-ve-learned-that-disagreements-with-james-often-occur-because-one-of/) [Dave Hitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-hitz/) > [Harmony is a symphony, and symphony is an agreement; but an agreement of disagreements while they disagree there cannot be; you cannot harmonize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/harmony-is-a-symphony-and-symphony-is-an-agreement-but-an-agreement/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [A delusion that encourages belief where there is no evidence is asking for trouble. 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Small disagreements can end up holding back progress beyond reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-webb/when-people-s-brains-are-in-defensive-mode-it-becomes-harder-to-see/) [Caroline Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-webb/) > [We should stop looking to law to provide the final answer… Law cannot save us from ourselves… We have to go out and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-should-stop-looking-to-law-to-provide-the-final-answer-law-cannot/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [It appears to me that in Ethics, as in all other philosophical studies, the difficulties and disagreements, of which history is full, are mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-moore/it-appears-to-me-that-in-ethics-as-in-all-other-philosophical-studies/) [George Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-moore/) > [Disagreements over money are the biggest cause of divorce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/disagreements-over-money-are-the-biggest-cause-of-divorce/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [There have been major disagreements within the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/there-have-been-major-disagreements-within-the-european-union/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [“Have thoughtful disagreements in which people are willing to shift their opinions as they learn,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/have-thoughtful-disagreements-in-which-people-are-willing-to-shift/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“Some day, I must ask him what it's like to be married to someone who, eyes narrowed in thought, peers at him over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordelia-fine/some-day-i-must-ask-him-what-it-s-like-to-be-married-to-someone-who/) [Cordelia Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordelia-fine/) > [It's true we have our disagreements on border issues, we have disagreements on trade and related issues, but you don't go invading a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meles-zenawi/it-s-true-we-have-our-disagreements-on-border-issues-we-have/) [Meles Zenawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meles-zenawi/) ## More by Alister E. 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McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [The true believer is not someone who disengages from this world in order to focus on heaven, but rather the one who tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-true-believer-is-not-someone-who-disengages-from-this-world-in/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“The rising influence of lay piety is particularly marked upon the Mariological controversies of the late medieval period. Two rival positions developed: the maculist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-rising-influence-of-lay-piety-is-particularly-marked-upon-the/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“We are doomed to remain incomplete in our present existence. Our hopes and deepest longings will remain nothing but just that; Our hopes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/we-are-doomed-to-remain-incomplete-in-our-present-existence-our-hopes/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [We must not think that religious concerns swamped all other social activities. They simply provided a focal point for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/we-must-not-think-that-religious-concerns-swamped-all-other-social/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [To reenchant nature is not merely to gain a new perspective for its integrity and well-being; it is to throw open the doors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/to-reenchant-nature-is-not-merely-to-gain-a-new-perspective-for-its/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“For Lewis, Christianity doesn’t just make sense of things. It changes our stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/for-lewis-christianity-doesn-t-just-make-sense-of-things-it-changes/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [Hope is rooted in the trustworthiness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/hope-is-rooted-in-the-trustworthiness-of-god/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [Suffering does not call into question the "big picture" of the Christian faith. It reminds us that we do not see the whole picture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/suffering-does-not-call-into-question-the-big-picture-of-the/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [Our desires cannot be, and were never meant to be, satisfied by earthly pleasures alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/our-desires-cannot-be-and-were-never-meant-to-be-satisfied-by-earthly/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) [Explore all 61 Alister E. 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