--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that Christianity is basically a…" description: "\"The idea that Christianity is basically a religion of moral improvement... has its roots in the liberal Protestantism of the late nineteenth century an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_abandoned_the-idea-that-christianity-is-basically_1603056.jpg" --- # The idea that Christianity is basically a religion of… ![“The idea that Christianity is basically a religion of moral improvement... has its roots in the liberal Protestantism of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century... It is this stereotype which continues to have influence today... But then came the First World War... What had gone…” quote by Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_abandoned_the-idea-that-christianity-is-basically_1603056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_abandoned_the-idea-that-christianity-is-basically_1603056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_abandoned_the-idea-that-christianity-is-basically_1603056.jpg) > “The idea that Christianity is basically a religion of moral improvement... has its roots in the liberal Protestantism of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century... It is this stereotype which continues to have influence today... But then came the First World War... What had gone wrong was that the idea of sin had been abandoned by liberal Christianity as some kind of unnecessary hangover from an earlier and less enlightened period in Christian history.” [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. Liberal Christianity in the 19th‑20th centuries reframed sin as outdated, shaping a moral‑improvement narrative that persists today. **In simple terms:** Liberal Christianity downplays sin, focusing on moral progress. Key Takeaway Recognize how historical theology influences modern moral views. Themes theology history morality religion culture Mood reflective critical analytical Type philosophical historical theological When to use this quote - church teaching - public policy - ethical debates - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Liberalism sin modernity moral improvement Questions to Reflect On - How does redefining sin affect ethical behavior? - What are the consequences of viewing religion solely as moral improvement? A Different Perspective This view may overlook the role of sin in personal accountability and spiritual depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoned/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-basically-2859349/) [Christianity Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-kind-3958476/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [First world war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-world-war/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Hangover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hangover/) [Idea Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-christianity-256290/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Liberal Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-christianity-3978111/) [Liberal Protestantism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-protestantism-1185389/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Protestantism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestantism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Twentieth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twentieth-century/) [Unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) ## Related quotes > [The problem with liberal Protestantism in America is not that it has not been orthodox enough, but that it has lost a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/the-problem-with-liberal-protestantism-in-america-is-not-that-it-has/) [Peter L. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I've chronicled the experience of the mother of a transgender child who got attacked by the Ku Klux Klan in Tennessee, and that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-ve-chronicled-the-experience-of-the-mother-of-a-transgender-child/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [The reason I like socialism is that it's kind of enforced Christianity. It's basically very Christian, in the sense of "do unto others as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/the-reason-i-like-socialism-is-that-it-s-kind-of-enforced/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [Christianity has basically communicated to men that the reason God put you on this Earth is to be a good boy. 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While this position can easily be interpreted as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/from-the-outset-protestantism-rejected-the-critical-medieval/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [Take the very hardest thing in your life - the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilias-trotter/take-the-very-hardest-thing-in-your-life-the-place-of-difficulty/) [Lilias Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilias-trotter/) > [Like the early Christians, we must move into a sometime hostile world armed with the revolutionary gospel of Jesus Christ. With this powerful gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/like-the-early-christians-we-must-move-into-a-sometime-hostile-world/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Alister E. McGrath > [The success of the Inklings also helps us to see criticism in a positive light. There are, unfortunately, people who boost their own sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-success-of-the-inklings-also-helps-us-to-see-criticism-in-a/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“The medieval period based its scriptural exegesis upon the Vulgate translation of the Bible. There was no authorized version of this text, despite the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-medieval-period-based-its-scriptural-exegesis-upon-the-vulgate/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“Lewis's mental map of reality had difficulty accommodating the trauma of the Great War. Like so many, he found the settled way of looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/lewis-s-mental-map-of-reality-had-difficulty-accommodating-the-trauma/) [Alister E. 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McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [We live on earth; our homeland is in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/we-live-on-earth-our-homeland-is-in-heaven/) [Alister E. 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/) [Explore all 61 Alister E. 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