--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Contemporary Christianity, diverse and…" description: "\"Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second cent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-co_291821.jpg" --- # Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find… ![“Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries. For nearly all Christians since that time, Catholics, Protestants, or Orthodox, have shared three basic premises. First, they accept the…” quote by Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-co_291821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-co_291821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-co_291821.jpg) > “Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries. For nearly all Christians since that time, Catholics, Protestants, or Orthodox, have shared three basic premises. First, they accept the canon of the New Testament; second, they confess the apostolic creed; and third, they affirm specific forms of church institution. But every one of these - the canon of Scripture, the creed, and the institutional structure - emerged in its present form only toward the end of the second century.” [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early Christianity eventually converged on three core doctrines despite diverse origins, showing unexpected unity across centuries. **In simple terms:** Christianity shares three main beliefs despite early differences. Key Takeaway Recognize common foundations across traditions. Themes religion history unity Mood thoughtful analytical Type historical theoretical When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - theological study - church education - ecumenical initiatives Key Concepts doctrine canon creed institution historical development Questions to Reflect On - How did these doctrines form? - Why do they persist? A Different Perspective Differences in practice still cause division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Apostolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostolic/) [Apostolic Creed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostolic-creed-2805399/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Canon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-church/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-diverse-2805398/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-institution-384964/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Contemporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) [Contemporary christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-christian/) [Contemporary Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-christianity-2805397/) [Creeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeds/) [Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diverse/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Premises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premises/) [Protestants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestants/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Scripture Creed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture-creed-2805400/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Unanimity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unanimity/) ## Related quotes > [The overwhelming emphasis of contemporary Christianity: "Just do it." The overwhelming emphasis of Biblical Christianity: "It is finished"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-overwhelming-emphasis-of-contemporary-christianity-just-do-it-the/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“The slightest overview of historical Christian thought from the Reformers to the present reveals that there is a great contrast between the gospel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-slightest-overview-of-historical-christian-thought-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But Christ could certainly not have established the Church. That is, the institution we now call by that name, for nothing resembling our present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/but-christ-could-certainly-not-have-established-the-church-that-is/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I refused to teach Sunday school. When Archdeacon Henry Phillips, my last rector, died, I flatly refused again to join any church or sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-refused-to-teach-sunday-school-when-archdeacon-henry-phillips-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The church is not an institution forcing us to follow rules but a community inviting us to still our hunger and thirst at its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-church-is-not-an-institution-forcing-us-to-follow-rules-but-a/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“In our discussion of the need for balanced ministry fronts in chapter 23, we looked at the five models of church proposed by Avery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-our-discussion-of-the-need-for-balanced-ministry-fronts-in-chapter/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [When the church becomes an institution, people are nothing more than volunteers to be recruited. When the church is a movement, our stewardship becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-the-church-becomes-an-institution-people-are-nothing-more-than/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [The Church is the one institution that exists for those outside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/the-church-is-the-one-institution-that-exists-for-those-outside-it/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [It is simultaneously the blessing and the curse of the reflective Christian that believers are called to live out their faith in the church.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-taylor/it-is-simultaneously-the-blessing-and-the-curse-of-the-reflective/) [Daniel Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-taylor/) > [The Catholic Church is an institution I am bound to hold divine - but for unbelievers a proof of its divinity might be found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-catholic-church-is-an-institution-i-am-bound-to-hold-divine-but/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [God has established three institutions within human society: the family, the state, and the church. Each institution has a sphere of authority with jurisdictional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/god-has-established-three-institutions-within-human-society-the/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [The true Church is not an institution to be kept apart from the world because the world "is common and unclean," but a vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/the-true-church-is-not-an-institution-to-be-kept-apart-from-the-world/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [The church is the only institution supernaturally endowed by God. It is the one institution of which Jesus promised that the gates of hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/the-church-is-the-only-institution-supernaturally-endowed-by-god-it/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [The church is an institution of music and of production and performance, and it has to do with taking people to places inside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-wright/the-church-is-an-institution-of-music-and-of-production-and/) [Lizz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-wright/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Elaine Pagels > [“Only the Jews, of all the nations under Roman rule, had won the right to separate their political obligations from religious ones, to obey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/only-the-jews-of-all-the-nations-under-roman-rule-had-won-the-right/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [ “Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, \[the Jews’\] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. Christians, however, had no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/even-tacitus-admitted-that-whatever-their-origin-the-jews-observances/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [There's practically no religion that I know of that sees other people in a way that affirms the others' choices. But in our century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/there-s-practically-no-religion-that-i-know-of-that-sees-other-people/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [He's an intimate betrayer. That's what's so troubling. Judas turned in his own teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/he-s-an-intimate-betrayer-that-s-what-s-so-troubling-judas-turned-in/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Antichrist is often identified with the second beast in the Book of Revelation that arises from the land, the beast that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-antichrist-is-often-identified-with-the-second-beast-in-the-book/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“Jesus—for example, his categorical rejection of divorce, or his statement that “if anyone does not hate his own father and mother and wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/jesus-for-example-his-categorical-rejection-of-divorce-or-his/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Gospel of Thomas claims to be the secret sayings of Jesus. There are 114 of them, so it says many things, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-gospel-of-thomas-claims-to-be-the-secret-sayings-of-jesus-there/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [I just have a sense that, you know, I'm curious about what is religion about, you know? Why do some of us still engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-just-have-a-sense-that-you-know-i-m-curious-about-what-is-religion/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [ “Augustine reflects that “what made me a slave to it was the habit \[consuetudo\] of satisfying an insatiable lust.”31” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/augustine-reflects-that-what-made-me-a-slave-to-it-was-the-habit/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“I beseech you, my lord, why have I been endowed with the power of understanding? For I did not want to ask about heavenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-beseech-you-my-lord-why-have-i-been-endowed-with-the-power-of/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“thus the story of Eden was made to reinforce the patriarchal structure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/thus-the-story-of-eden-was-made-to-reinforce-the-patriarchal-structure/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The author of the Gospel of Judas wasn't against martyrdom, and he didn't ever insult the martyrs. He said it's one thing to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-author-of-the-gospel-of-judas-wasn-t-against-martyrdom-and-he/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“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/) > [Startling as the Gospel of Judas sounds, it amplifies hints we have long read in the Gospels of Mark and John that Jesus knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/startling-as-the-gospel-of-judas-sounds-it-amplifies-hints-we-have/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Book of Revelation is all about the conflict, the contest between the forces of Good and Evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-book-of-revelation-is-all-about-the-conflict-the-contest-between/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) [Explore all 81 Elaine Pagels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries. For nearly all Christians since that time, Catholics, Protestants, or Orthodox, have shared three basic premises. First, they accept the canon of the New Testament; second, they confess the apostolic creed; and third, they affirm specific forms of church institution. 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