--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wonder if the fact that I left the…" description: "\"“I wonder if the fact that I left the faith is somehow seen as threatening, at least among people who have a gnawing suspicion,”\" — Bart D. Ehrman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/bart-d-ehrman-3928_faith_i-wonder-if-the-fact-that-i-left-the-fai_1116341.png" --- # I wonder if the fact that I left the faith is somehow seen… ![“I wonder if the fact that I left the faith is somehow seen as threatening, at least among people who have a gnawing suspicion,” quote by Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/bart-d-ehrman-3928_faith_i-wonder-if-the-fact-that-i-left-the-fai_1116341.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/bart-d-ehrman-3928_faith_i-wonder-if-the-fact-that-i-left-the-fai_1116341.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/bart-d-ehrman-3928_faith_i-wonder-if-the-fact-that-i-left-the-fai_1116341.png) > ““I wonder if the fact that I left the faith is somehow seen as threatening, at least among people who have a gnawing suspicion,”” [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving a religious tradition can be perceived as a threat by believers who suspect doubt within their community. **In simple terms:** Leaving faith may feel threatening to others. Key Takeaway Acknowledge fear, foster open dialogue. Themes faith identity community fear doubt Mood reflective concerned Type personal social critical When to use this quote - church groups - family gatherings - online forums - interfaith dialogues Key Concepts apostasy social perception psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your experience challenge communal beliefs? - What can communities do to welcome questioning? A Different Perspective Some may view departure as betrayal, not just curiosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) ## Related quotes > [The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with faith to fight for it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-bevan/the-nhs-will-last-as-long-as-there-are-folk-left-with-faith-to-fight/) [Aneurin Bevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-bevan/) > [The farther we go, the more the ultimate explanation recedes from us, and all we have left is faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-hlavaty/the-farther-we-go-the-more-the-ultimate-explanation-recedes-from-us/) Vaclav Hlavaty > [“You can't help noticing that since abandoning its faith in the unseen world Europe seems also to have lost its faith in the seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/you-can-t-help-noticing-that-since-abandoning-its-faith-in-the-unseen/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [“In the face of opposition, faith is seen the strongest. In the midst of loss, laughter is heard the loudest. In the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-dalton/in-the-face-of-opposition-faith-is-seen-the-strongest-in-the-midst-of/) Michael A Dalton > [My simple point is that I judge a person's faith by how they live their life, not by the tenets of their religion. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/my-simple-point-is-that-i-judge-a-person-s-faith-by-how-they-live/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [As I read, my suspicion that Jesus might really be the Messiah was confirmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-read-my-suspicion-that-jesus-might-really-be-the-messiah-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Something very unique about Germany is that once you are suspected or accused of having worked for the Stassi, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-schwochow/something-very-unique-about-germany-is-that-once-you-are-suspected-or/) [Christian Schwochow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-schwochow/) > [This is as 'alone' as I'm likely to get with you - you're not half so fetching as your daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/this-is-as-alone-as-i-m-likely-to-get-with-you-you-re-not-half-so/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I don't know whether we think in moving images or whether we think in still images. I have a suspicion that on our hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-snow/i-don-t-know-whether-we-think-in-moving-images-or-whether-we-think-in/) [Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-snow/) > [The fundamental problem for Republicans when it comes to the environment is that whatever you say is viewed through the prism of suspicion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/the-fundamental-problem-for-republicans-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [“If one does not know how to read the account (karmic) book, then he will start to have doubts, and doubts lead to unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-one-does-not-know-how-to-read-the-account-karmic-book-then-he-will/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) ## More by Bart D. Ehrman > [“If you get fired from your job, that’s outside your control, so you shouldn’t be personally invested in your job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/if-you-get-fired-from-your-job-that-s-outside-your-control-so-you/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“It’s like what some Episcopalians say about themselves today: get four in a room and you’ll find five opinions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/it-s-like-what-some-episcopalians-say-about-themselves-today-get-four/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“The Synoptics simply accept a Christological view that is different from Paul’s. They hold to exaltation Christologies, and Paul holds to an incarnation Christology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/the-synoptics-simply-accept-a-christological-view-that-is-different/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“If Jesus really were equal with God from “the beginning,” before he came to earth, and he knew it, then surely the Synoptic Gospels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/if-jesus-really-were-equal-with-god-from-the-beginning-before-he-came/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“Moreover, this earlier tradition has a different view of Christ than the one that Paul explicates elsewhere in his surviving writings. Here, unlike in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/moreover-this-earlier-tradition-has-a-different-view-of-christ-than/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“Origen delved into theological areas that had not yet been examined by any of his predecessors in the faith .. Later theologians questioned his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/origen-delved-into-theological-areas-that-had-not-yet-been-examined/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“Later orthodox theologians would have found this view completely inadequate. In stressing that the Father was “greater” than the Son, Tertullian articulated a view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/later-orthodox-theologians-would-have-found-this-view-completely/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“What we think of as the twenty-seven books of “the” New Testament emerged out of these conflicts, and it was the side that won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/what-we-think-of-as-the-twenty-seven-books-of-the-new-testament/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“Paul, by the way, never says that Jesus declared himself to be divine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/paul-by-the-way-never-says-that-jesus-declared-himself-to-be-divine/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [I have such a fantastic life that I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for it. . . . But I don't have anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/i-have-such-a-fantastic-life-that-i-feel-an-overwhelming-sense-of/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“similarity among all the speeches in Acts suggests that they were written by the same person—Luke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/similarity-among-all-the-speeches-in-acts-suggests-that-they-were/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“pastors don’t want to make waves; or they don’t think their congregations are “ready” to hear what scholars are saying;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/pastors-don-t-want-to-make-waves-or-they-don-t-think-their/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“This is one of the hard-and-fast ironies of the Christian tradition: views that at one time were the majority opinion, or at least that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/this-is-one-of-the-hard-and-fast-ironies-of-the-christian-tradition/) [bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“If Jesus predicted that the imminent apocalypse would arrive within his own generation, before his disciples had all died, what was one to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/if-jesus-predicted-that-the-imminent-apocalypse-would-arrive-within/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“In Galatians 4:14 Paul is not contrasting Christ with an angel; he is equating him with an angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/in-galatians-4-14-paul-is-not-contrasting-christ-with-an-angel-he-is/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) [Explore all 118 Bart D. Ehrman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. 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