Authority Quote by David Bentley Hart
“Christians, indeed, have a special obligation not to forget how great and how inextinguishable the human proclivity for violence is, or how many victims it has claimed, for they worship a God who does not merely take the part of those victims, but who was himself one of them, murdered by the combined authority and moral prudence of the political, religious, and legal powers of human society.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Beauty of the Infinite, David Bentley Hart, 2019
Humans have an innate capacity for violence, and Christians must remember this while worshipping a God who also suffered as a victim of societal powers.
In simple terms: Human violence is deep; remember it even in faith.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and confront violence.
Themes
theity
faith
human nature
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
theological
ethical
When to use this quote
- church teaching
- social justice work
- personal reflection
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing shared victimhood affect moral responsibility?
- Can faith inspire non‑violent solutions?
A Different Perspective
Violence can be rationalized or ignored, limiting moral action.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
