Absolute truth Quote by Brian D. McLaren
“The Bible is not considered an accurate, absolute, authoritative, or authoritarian source but a book to be experienced and one experience can be as valid as any other can. Experience, dialogue, feelings, and conversations are equated with Scripture while certitude, authority, and doctrine are to be eschewed! No doctrines are to be absolute and truth or doctrine must be considered only with personal experiences, traditions, historical leaders, etc. The Bible is not an answer book.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Great Spiritual Migration", 2015
The Bible should be approached as a lived experience, not an absolute authority; truth emerges from personal and communal dialogue.
In simple terms: Bible is experiential, not doctrinal.
Key Takeaway
Engage with scripture through personal reflection and conversation.
Themes
spirituality
subjectivity
dialogue
Mood
reflective
open‑minded
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- faith study groups
- personal journaling
- interfaith dialogues
Key Concepts
personal experience
community interpretation
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal insight with communal tradition?
- What role should historical context play in interpretation?
A Different Perspective
Absolute claims can still influence believers despite this view.
![“We [tend to] have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate. We [often feel that we] cannot derive a sense of absolute certitude from anything which has its root in us. The most poignant sense of insecurity comes from standing alone; we are not alone when we imitate.” quote by Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9a/bruce-lee-430_absolutes_we-tend-to-have-more-faith-in-what-we-im_269245.jpg)
