--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our religion is one which challenges the…" description: "\"Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human standards by holding that the ideal of life is the spirit of a little child. We tend to glorify..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/d-elton-trueblood-26225_adulthood_our-religion-is-one-which-challenges-the_749217.jpg" --- # Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human… ![“Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human standards by holding that the ideal of life is the spirit of a little child. We tend to glorify adulthood and wisdom and worldly prudence, but the Gospel reverses all this. The Gospel says that the inescapable condition of entrance into the…” quote by D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/d-elton-trueblood-26225_adulthood_our-religion-is-one-which-challenges-the_749217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/d-elton-trueblood-26225_adulthood_our-religion-is-one-which-challenges-the_749217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/d-elton-trueblood-26225_adulthood_our-religion-is-one-which-challenges-the_749217.jpg) > “Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human standards by holding that the ideal of life is the spirit of a little child. We tend to glorify adulthood and wisdom and worldly prudence, but the Gospel reverses all this. The Gospel says that the inescapable condition of entrance into the divine fellowship is that we turn and become as a little child.” [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates childlike humility and openness as spiritual ideals, opposing adult pride and prudence. **In simple terms:** Childlike humility is spiritually ideal. Key Takeaway Cultivate childlike wonder and trust. Themes spirituality humility faith Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious practice - parenting - education - personal reflection Key Concepts childlike innocence Gospel teaching spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How can childlike trust coexist with adult responsibility? - What does humility look like today? A Different Perspective Childlike simplicity may be impractical in complex decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adulthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adulthood/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Entrances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrances/) [Fellowship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellowship/) [Glorify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorify/) [Glorify Adulthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorify-adulthood-5831506/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Gospel Reverses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-reverses-5831505/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Prudence Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence-gospel-5831504/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-challenges-5831503/) [Reverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverse/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) ## Related quotes > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I have always had this very strong, call it a feeling, call it a prejudice, call it a conviction ... that the mysteries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-have-always-had-this-very-strong-call-it-a-feeling-call-it-a/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practice love, We should agree as angels do above. 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Elton Trueblood > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The more we study the early Church, the more we realize that it was a society of ministers. About the only similarity between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-more-we-study-the-early-church-the-more-we-realize-that-it-was-a/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The Christian is joyful, not because he is blind to injustice and suffering, but because he is convinced that these, in the light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-christian-is-joyful-not-because-he-is-blind-to-injustice-and/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [It takes a noble man to plant a seed for a tree that will someday give shade to people he may never meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/it-takes-a-noble-man-to-plant-a-seed-for-a-tree-that-will-someday/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Democracy is necessitated by the fact that all men are sinners; it is made possible by the fact that we know it. ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/democracy-is-necessitated-by-the-fact-that-all-men-are-sinners-it-is/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [At the profoundest depths in life, men talk not about God but with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/at-the-profoundest-depths-in-life-men-talk-not-about-god-but-with-him/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [If the average church should suddenly take seriously the notion that every lay member man or woman is really a minister of Christ, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/if-the-average-church-should-suddenly-take-seriously-the-notion-that/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [This historic Christian doctrine of the divinity of Christ does not simply mean that Jesus is like God. It is far more radical than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/this-historic-christian-doctrine-of-the-divinity-of-christ-does-not/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The ultimate verification of our religion consists of the changed lives to which it can point and for which it is responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-ultimate-verification-of-our-religion-consists-of-the-changed/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The world is equally shocked at hearing Christianity criticized and seeing it practiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-world-is-equally-shocked-at-hearing-christianity-criticized-and/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [We need to be agnostics first and then there is some chance at arriving at a sensible system of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/we-need-to-be-agnostics-first-and-then-there-is-some-chance-at/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/a-man-has-made-at-least-a-start-on-discovering-the-meaning-of-human/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [No vital Christianity is possible unless at least three aspects of it are developed. These are the inner life of devotion, the outer life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/no-vital-christianity-is-possible-unless-at-least-three-aspects-of-it/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/faith-is-not-belief-without-proof-but-trust-without-reservation/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only way to happiness is never to give happiness a thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-only-way-to-happiness-is-never-to-give-happiness-a-thought/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) [Explore all 22 D. Elton Trueblood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) ## More Adulthood quotes > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [People often say that you should never work with child actors. I think that's all wrong. 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Their tailored clothes and unbending hairdos, their clipboards and laser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-baume/the-entrepreneurs-are-only-about-my-age-probably-younger-but-they-don/) [Sara Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-baume/) [Browse all 651 Adulthood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adulthood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human standards by holding that the ideal of life is the spirit of a little child. We tend to glorify adulthood and wisdom and worldly prudence, but the Gospel reverses all this. The Gospel says that the inescapable condition of entrance into the divine fellowship is that we turn and become as a little child.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D. 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