---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was mainly developed as a political…"
description: "\"“It was mainly developed as a political device to help build the power of the orthodox church and to help overcome the influence of the gnostics.”\" — D..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg"
---

#  It was mainly developed as a political device to help…

![“It was mainly developed as a political device to help build the power of the orthodox church and to help overcome the influence of the gnostics.” quote by Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg)

> ““It was mainly developed as a political device to help build the power of the orthodox church and to help overcome the influence of the gnostics.””

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement claims the orthodox church used political tactics to strengthen its authority and counteract Gnostic influence.

**In simple terms:** The church used politics to gain power over Gnostics.

Key Takeaway

Understand historical power dynamics in religion.

Themes

religion politics history authority

Mood

analytical critical

Type

historical theoretical

When to use this quote

- church reforms
- religious debates
- academic study

Key Concepts

institutional power ideological conflict

Questions to Reflect On

- What motivations drive religious institutions to seek power?
- How do political strategies shape religious narratives?

A Different Perspective

May simplify complex theological interactions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Orthodox church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-church/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [Gnostics cannot understand Christ for the same reason a thief find a policeman...they don't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/gnostics-cannot-understand-christ-for-the-same-reason-a-thief-find-a/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

> [GNOSTICS, n. A sect of philosophers who tried to engineer a fusion between the early Christians and the Platonists. The former would not go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/gnostics-n-a-sect-of-philosophers-who-tried-to-engineer-a-fusion/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [The Gnostics were rapidly driven out of business by the hierarchical orthodox Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shea/the-gnostics-were-rapidly-driven-out-of-business-by-the-hierarchical/)

[Robert Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shea/)

> [“So they trust in the deity of the Old Testament, an incontinent dotard who soiled Himself and the universe with his corruption, a low-budget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/so-they-trust-in-the-deity-of-the-old-testament-an-incontinent-dotard/)

[Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/)

> [“Gnostics, in general, are not trying to delineate a set of beliefs. The intent is to inspire the sacred quest for true gnosis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tau-malachi/gnostics-in-general-are-not-trying-to-delineate-a-set-of-beliefs-the/)

Tau Malachi

> [Gnostics can awaken to the real state of Illumination only through the understanding and elimination of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/gnostics-can-awaken-to-the-real-state-of-illumination-only-through/)

[Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/)

> [“What we need to be rescued from is not our physical nature, our metaphysical finitude, but our personal estrangement from God. Indeed, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-to-be-rescued-from-is-not-our-physical-nature-our/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The Gnostics (also called Manichees) postulated that there were two gods -- the Christian God of goodness and light, and an evil anti-God of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/the-gnostics-also-called-manichees-postulated-that-there-were-two/)

[Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/)

> [You could take up the line that some of the gnostics took up - a line which I often thought was a very plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/you-could-take-up-the-line-that-some-of-the-gnostics-took-up-a-line/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [“gnostics celebrated as proof of spiritual maturity, the orthodox denounced as “deviation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/gnostics-celebrated-as-proof-of-spiritual-maturity-the-orthodox/)

[Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/)

> [“Gnostics (and Buddhists) have often been labeled pessimists and world haters because of their willingness to look the dark face of the world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-a-hoeller/gnostics-and-buddhists-have-often-been-labeled-pessimists-and-world/)

[Stephan A. Hoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-a-hoeller/)

> [Others of them employ outward marks ... They style themselves Gnostics. They also possess images, some of them painted and others formed from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/others-of-them-employ-outward-marks-they-style-themselves-gnostics/)

[Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/)

> [“In the Russian Orthodox Church there is the concept of the Holy Fool. It means someone who is a fool to the ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-worth/in-the-russian-orthodox-church-there-is-the-concept-of-the-holy-fool/)

[Jennifer Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-worth/)

> [The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, “the Church which presides in charity”, is communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-one-thing-that-the-catholic-church-desires-and-that-i-seek-as/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sorokin/orthodox-churches-autocracy-and-national-traditions-are-supposed-to/)

[Vladimir Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sorokin/)

## More by Dolores Cannon

> [“To stop learning is to die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/to-stop-learning-is-to-die/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [We are moving into a new world and the old negativity will be left behind. Through the law of cause and effect, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/we-are-moving-into-a-new-world-and-the-old-negativity-will-be-left/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [Throughout my work, my subjects are being told that they must change their diet in order to make the adjustment into the new world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/throughout-my-work-my-subjects-are-being-told-that-they-must-change/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [Apparently when we enter the Earth existence, the third dimensional reality, we exist with a façade as actors playing various roles. For some it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/apparently-when-we-enter-the-earth-existence-the-third-dimensional/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“the evolution of the heart and compassion is what is missing technically. Humans have proceeded to technological advances before without heart balance, without heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/the-evolution-of-the-heart-and-compassion-is-what-is-missing/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“The media and the movies are showing you their desperation as they insist in presenting to the masses information that is completely negative and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/the-media-and-the-movies-are-showing-you-their-desperation-as-they/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“So it seems as though this part of us that is living a life on Earth is only a small piece or splinter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/so-it-seems-as-though-this-part-of-us-that-is-living-a-life-on-earth/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [While the body sleeps our soul or spirit is having many adventures. It may travel to the spirit realm to meet with master teachers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/while-the-body-sleeps-our-soul-or-spirit-is-having-many-adventures-it/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“It is time to awaken!” “You have a mission! It is time to begin!” “Stop wasting time! Time is growing short for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/it-is-time-to-awaken-you-have-a-mission-it-is-time-to-begin-stop/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [Extraterrestri als are living now on Earth. They are everywhere, among your friends, neighbors, even your relatives. Their blood flows through our veins. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/extraterrestri-als-are-living-now-on-earth-they-are-everywhere-among/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“when we go someplace, we leave a part of our energy there and we influence more than we can ever imagine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/when-we-go-someplace-we-leave-a-part-of-our-energy-there-and-we/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [When we have completed all the journeys and adventures through our variety of lives we are supposed to return to the creator with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/when-we-have-completed-all-the-journeys-and-adventures-through-our/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“They’re calling the children the ones learning... the humans... the learning ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/they-re-calling-the-children-the-ones-learning-the-humans-the/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“No perfection... more experience. As soon as you reach perfection it is not perfect anymore because you want to try something different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/no-perfection-more-experience-as-soon-as-you-reach-perfection-it-is/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“We were especially cautioned against eating animal protein, and fried foods which act as an irritant to the body. "These act as aggravators to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/we-were-especially-cautioned-against-eating-animal-protein-and-fried/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

[Explore all 37 Dolores Cannon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

## More Orthodox church quotes

> [Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sorokin/orthodox-churches-autocracy-and-national-traditions-are-supposed-to/)

[Vladimir Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sorokin/)

> [The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, “the Church which presides in charity”, is communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-one-thing-that-the-catholic-church-desires-and-that-i-seek-as/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“In the Russian Orthodox Church there is the concept of the Holy Fool. It means someone who is a fool to the ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-worth/in-the-russian-orthodox-church-there-is-the-concept-of-the-holy-fool/)

[Jennifer Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-worth/)

> [In the emerging culture, darkness represents spirituality. We see this in Buddhist temples, as well as Catholic and orthodox churches. Darkness indicates that something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kimball/in-the-emerging-culture-darkness-represents-spirituality-we-see-this/)

[Dan Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-kimball/)

> [The brother of my grandfather was the patriarch of the Orthodox Church and revered as a saint. So everything in my childhood is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/the-brother-of-my-grandfather-was-the-patriarch-of-the-orthodox/)

[Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/)

> [I really do feel that these people are brothers and sisters in God's family. I am looking to build bridges with the Orthodox Church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/i-really-do-feel-that-these-people-are-brothers-and-sisters-in-god-s/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail-against-it/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass - "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/all-my-theology-is-reduced-to-this-narrow-compass-jesus-christ-came/)

[Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/)

> [“The train resembles the Soviet type and is quite comfortable, but all socialist structures I have ever encountered have toilets stemming from a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-train-resembles-the-soviet-type-and-is-quite-comfortable-but-all/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [Give any orthodox church the power, and to-day they would punish heresy with whip, and chain, and fire. As long as a church deems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/give-any-orthodox-church-the-power-and-to-day-they-would-punish/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [“Julian recognized that the strength of the orthodox Church rested to a great extent on the imperial discrimination in its favour. According to Ammianus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/julian-recognized-that-the-strength-of-the-orthodox-church-rested-to/)

[Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/)

> [“In the Orthodox Church, we don't go for partial immersion; no sprinkling, no forehead dabbing for us. In order to be reborn, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/in-the-orthodox-church-we-don-t-go-for-partial-immersion-no/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [“The reason my husband and I became Orthodox was that our mainline denomination was energetically revising its theology; church leaders were teaching that Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-mathewes-green/the-reason-my-husband-and-i-became-orthodox-was-that-our-mainline/)

[Frederica Mathewes-Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-mathewes-green/)

> [“Liberal churches don’t regard it as “God’s Word” in any definitive way. They feel free to reject aspects of it if they don’t agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/liberal-churches-don-t-regard-it-as-god-s-word-in-any-definitive-way/)

[Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/)

> [Christ is our hope, our cleansing and santification, our resurrection, life and repose. He alone is what we all need, and therefore, the Orthodox…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/christ-is-our-hope-our-cleansing-and-santification-our-resurrection/)

[John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/)

[Browse all 35 Orthodox church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-church/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It was mainly developed as a political device to help build the power of the orthodox church and to help overcome the influence of the gnostics.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dolores Cannon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-device-to-help-build-the-power/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Orthodox church"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-device-to-help-build-the-power/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/618/dolores-cannon-17311_orthodox-church_it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-d_2897144.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was mainly developed as a political device to help build the power of the orthodox church and to help…” — Dolores Cannon",
                "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": "Dolores Cannon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It was mainly developed as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-device-to-help-build-the-power/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/it-was-mainly-developed-as-a-political-device-to-help-build-the-power/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
