--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is often said that one’s theology is…" description: "\"“It is often said that one’s theology is not tenable unless it can be preached at the gates of Auschwitz.”\" — Austin Fischer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg" --- # It is often said that one’s theology is not tenable unless… ![“It is often said that one’s theology is not tenable unless it can be preached at the gates of Auschwitz.” quote by Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg) > ““It is often said that one’s theology is not tenable unless it can be preached at the gates of Auschwitz.”” [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) ## 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 argues that a belief system must be defensible enough to be proclaimed even at the most horrific places, like Auschwitz. **In simple terms:** Faith must be robust enough to face extreme moral challenges. Key Takeaway Test the resilience of your beliefs under hardship. Themes ethics theology human rights Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - human rights education - personal crisis - public policy Key Concepts moral philosophy existential risk historical memory Questions to Reflect On - Can any belief survive scrutiny at Auschwitz? - What does this say about the relationship between faith and morality? A Different Perspective May be used to justify extremist positions if misapplied. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auschwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) [Gates Auschwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gates-auschwitz-5226892/) [Said Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-theology-1461194/) [Theology Tenable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology-tenable-5226893/) [Unless Preached](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-preached-5226894/) ## Related quotes > [“The most blessed result of prayer would be to rise thinking "But I never knew before. I never dreamed…" I suppose it was at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-most-blessed-result-of-prayer-would-be-to-rise-thinking-but-i/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“He sounded chilly. “I’m sure she is.” Allegra was trying to back off, but she was annoyed that he had taken her father’s part,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/he-sounded-chilly-i-m-sure-she-is-allegra-was-trying-to-back-off-but/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [“It was, unbelievably, not the most depressing thing we had ever seen: a bride, ripped from her own wedding, separated from her groom, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-was-unbelievably-not-the-most-depressing-thing-we-had-ever-seen-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I know that elections must be limited only to those who understand that the Arabs are the deadly enemy of the Jewish state, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meir-kahane/i-know-that-elections-must-be-limited-only-to-those-who-understand/) [Meir Kahane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meir-kahane/) > [There is no question in my mind that we live in one of the truly bestial centuries in human history. There are plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-chargaff/there-is-no-question-in-my-mind-that-we-live-in-one-of-the-truly/) [Erwin Chargaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-chargaff/) > [“In February, 1943, eight months before she was murdered in Auschwitz, the German painter Charlotte Salomon killed her grandfather. Salomon’s grandparents, like many Jews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/in-february-1943-eight-months-before-she-was-murdered-in-auschwitz/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [“I once conjured up this image of Hitler. I imagined that he didn’t kill himself and that he was kept in a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-haybittle/i-once-conjured-up-this-image-of-hitler-i-imagined-that-he-didn-t/) [Glenn Haybittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-haybittle/) > [There is more to Jewish history than Auschwitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/there-is-more-to-jewish-history-than-auschwitz/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [“I am keenly aware that the security we enjoy is frail, and could easily be disrupted. Secretly, a nagging fear gnaws at me: what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waterman/i-am-keenly-aware-that-the-security-we-enjoy-is-frail-and-could/) [Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waterman/) > [Eighteen months before I was born, my mother was in Auschwitz. She weighed 49 pounds. She always told me that God saved her so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/eighteen-months-before-i-was-born-my-mother-was-in-auschwitz-she/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [My own interest in Kafka's letter came about when I was writing an article on Peter Ginz, the boy novelist held in Terezin, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/my-own-interest-in-kafka-s-letter-came-about-when-i-was-writing-an/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [No sane person wants hell to exist. No sane person wants evil to exist. But hell is just evil eternalized. If there is evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/no-sane-person-wants-hell-to-exist-no-sane-person-wants-evil-to-exist/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“I remember that one Holy Week, the magazine I got every Thursday, Anteojito , came with a free poster depicting the Stations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-figueras/i-remember-that-one-holy-week-the-magazine-i-got-every-thursday/) [Marcelo Figueras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-figueras/) > [We need creativity. We need more poetry after Auschwitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/we-need-creativity-we-need-more-poetry-after-auschwitz/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Austin Fischer > [“The character of Jesus is the character of God. God would never do something Jesus would find morally reprehensible, so if you can’t find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/the-character-of-jesus-is-the-character-of-god-god-would-never-do/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“no misery to be saved from . . . So evil is necessary, in order to the highest happiness of the creature, and the completeness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/no-misery-to-be-saved-from-so-evil-is-necessary-in-order-to-the/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“heart of belief there is a leap. For various biblical, rational, and experiential”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/heart-of-belief-there-is-a-leap-for-various-biblical-rational-and/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“Or could one seriously introduce the idea of a bad God, as it were by the back door, through a sort of extreme Calvinism?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/or-could-one-seriously-introduce-the-idea-of-a-bad-god-as-it-were-by/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“Faith, doubt, humility, and confidence—this is the stuff and substance of theology at its best. Swagger, smugness, and certainty—this is the stuff and substance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/faith-doubt-humility-and-confidence-this-is-the-stuff-and-substance/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“Daily Jesus challenges you to follow him up on the cross so your old self can continue to be crucified, and daily you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/daily-jesus-challenges-you-to-follow-him-up-on-the-cross-so-your-old/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“is easy, particularly if home has been a place of abuse or neglect. But oftentimes leaving home is difficult, especially if home has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/is-easy-particularly-if-home-has-been-a-place-of-abuse-or-neglect-but/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“so I have also tried to be honest. And the best way I have found to be honest is to tell you my story:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/so-i-have-also-tried-to-be-honest-and-the-best-way-i-have-found-to-be/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“As Greg Boyd states: Why should we assume that God desires to do everything he has the raw power to do? . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/as-greg-boyd-states-why-should-we-assume-that-god-desires-to-do/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) > [“I believe we best say yes to God's glory and sovereignty by saying no to Calvinism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/i-believe-we-best-say-yes-to-god-s-glory-and-sovereignty-by-saying-no/) [Austin Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) [Explore all 11 Austin Fischer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/) ## More Auschwitz quotes > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We need creativity. We need more poetry after Auschwitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/we-need-creativity-we-need-more-poetry-after-auschwitz/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [“I remember that one Holy Week, the magazine I got every Thursday, Anteojito , came with a free poster depicting the Stations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-figueras/i-remember-that-one-holy-week-the-magazine-i-got-every-thursday/) [Marcelo Figueras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-figueras/) > [No sane person wants hell to exist. No sane person wants evil to exist. But hell is just evil eternalized. If there is evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/no-sane-person-wants-hell-to-exist-no-sane-person-wants-evil-to-exist/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [My own interest in Kafka's letter came about when I was writing an article on Peter Ginz, the boy novelist held in Terezin, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/my-own-interest-in-kafka-s-letter-came-about-when-i-was-writing-an/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Eighteen months before I was born, my mother was in Auschwitz. She weighed 49 pounds. She always told me that God saved her so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/eighteen-months-before-i-was-born-my-mother-was-in-auschwitz-she/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [“I am keenly aware that the security we enjoy is frail, and could easily be disrupted. Secretly, a nagging fear gnaws at me: what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waterman/i-am-keenly-aware-that-the-security-we-enjoy-is-frail-and-could/) [Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waterman/) > [There is more to Jewish history than Auschwitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/there-is-more-to-jewish-history-than-auschwitz/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [“I once conjured up this image of Hitler. I imagined that he didn’t kill himself and that he was kept in a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-haybittle/i-once-conjured-up-this-image-of-hitler-i-imagined-that-he-didn-t/) [Glenn Haybittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-haybittle/) > [“In February, 1943, eight months before she was murdered in Auschwitz, the German painter Charlotte Salomon killed her grandfather. Salomon’s grandparents, like many Jews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/in-february-1943-eight-months-before-she-was-murdered-in-auschwitz/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [There is no question in my mind that we live in one of the truly bestial centuries in human history. There are plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-chargaff/there-is-no-question-in-my-mind-that-we-live-in-one-of-the-truly/) [Erwin Chargaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-chargaff/) > [I know that elections must be limited only to those who understand that the Arabs are the deadly enemy of the Jewish state, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meir-kahane/i-know-that-elections-must-be-limited-only-to-those-who-understand/) [Meir Kahane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meir-kahane/) > [“It was, unbelievably, not the most depressing thing we had ever seen: a bride, ripped from her own wedding, separated from her groom, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-was-unbelievably-not-the-most-depressing-thing-we-had-ever-seen-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“He sounded chilly. “I’m sure she is.” Allegra was trying to back off, but she was annoyed that he had taken her father’s part,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/he-sounded-chilly-i-m-sure-she-is-allegra-was-trying-to-back-off-but/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [Auschwitz was one of the wealthiest places in the world. Everyone who was deported there had been in such a hurry that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-lasker-wallfisch/auschwitz-was-one-of-the-wealthiest-places-in-the-world-everyone-who/) [Anita Lasker-Wallfisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-lasker-wallfisch/) [Browse all 168 Auschwitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is often said that one’s theology is not tenable unless it can be preached at the gates of Auschwitz.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Austin Fischer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is-not-tenable-unless-it-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Auschwitz" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is-not-tenable-unless-it-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/austin-fischer-38446_auschwitz_it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is_2265190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is often said that one’s theology is not tenable unless it can be preached at the gates of Auschwitz.” — Austin Fischer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Austin Fischer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-fischer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is often said that one’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is-not-tenable-unless-it-can-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-fischer/it-is-often-said-that-one-s-theology-is-not-tenable-unless-it-can-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```