--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why did the consensus of Christian…" description: "\"Why did the consensus of Christian churches not only accept these astonishing views but establish them as the only true form of Christian doctrine? . ...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_why-did-the-consensus-of-christian-churc_1109480.jpg" --- # Why did the consensus of Christian churches not only… ![“Why did the consensus of Christian churches not only accept these astonishing views but establish them as the only true form of Christian doctrine? . . . these religious debates - questions of the nature of God, or of Christ - simultaneously bear social and political implications that are crucial…” quote by Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_why-did-the-consensus-of-christian-churc_1109480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_why-did-the-consensus-of-christian-churc_1109480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/elaine-pagels-8423_accepting_why-did-the-consensus-of-christian-churc_1109480.jpg) > “Why did the consensus of Christian churches not only accept these astonishing views but establish them as the only true form of Christian doctrine? . . . these religious debates - questions of the nature of God, or of Christ - simultaneously bear social and political implications that are crucial to the development of Christianity as an institutional religion. In simplest terms, ideas which bear implications contrary to that development come to be labeled as 'heresy'; ideas which implicitly support it become 'orthodox.'” [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. Powerful religious ideas are shaped by social and political forces, labeling dissent as heresy and conformity as orthodoxy. **In simple terms:** Religion is influenced by politics, making dissent labeled heresy. Key Takeaway Recognize how power shapes doctrine. Themes religion politics authority orthodoxy heresy Mood critical reflective Type analytical historical When to use this quote - church councils - theological debates - state religion - education curricula Key Concepts institutionalization social control ideology Questions to Reflect On - How do modern institutions label dissenting ideas? - What role should politics play in faith? A Different Perspective Labeling dissent can suppress legitimate inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Astonishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-church/) [Christian doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-doctrine/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Institutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-institutional-2948473/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus/) [Consensus Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus-christian-2948472/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Crucial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucial/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Heresy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heresy/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Implications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implications/) [Institutional Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutional-religion-369209/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-god/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Debates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-debates-2948474/) [Simplest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplest/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [“The controversy over resurrection, then, proved critical in shaping the Christian movement into an institutional religion. All Christians agreed in principle that only Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-controversy-over-resurrection-then-proved-critical-in-shaping-the/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [We are forbidden to neglect the assembling of ourselves together. Christianity is already institutional in the earliest of its documents. The Church is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-are-forbidden-to-neglect-the-assembling-of-ourselves-together/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Many people perceive Christianity as something institutional - rather than as an encounter with Christ - which explains why they don't see it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/many-people-perceive-christianity-as-something-institutional-rather/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“From many things that Adams and his contemporaries wrote, it is clear that they did not use the word "religion" to exclude Christian ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-demar/from-many-things-that-adams-and-his-contemporaries-wrote-it-is-clear/) [Gary DeMar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-demar/) > [“Jesus and institutional religion are on a collision course, and those who go with Jesus will find more adventure, freedom, and religion-bursting grace than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-mcbrayer/jesus-and-institutional-religion-are-on-a-collision-course-and-those/) [Ronnie McBrayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-mcbrayer/) > [Whosoever you are who introduce new doctrines, I beseech you to spare the ears of Romans! Spare that faith which was commended by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/whosoever-you-are-who-introduce-new-doctrines-i-beseech-you-to-spare/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“Later orthodox theologians would have found this view completely inadequate. In stressing that the Father was “greater” than the Son, Tertullian articulated a view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/later-orthodox-theologians-would-have-found-this-view-completely/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [The conviction that Christian doctrine matters for Christian living is one of the most important growth points of the Christian life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-conviction-that-christian-doctrine-matters-for-christian-living/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [When a minister or a clergyman takes seriously unfashionable Christian doctrines which condemn sex outside marriage, homosexuality, abortion, and feminism, and injects his views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hart/when-a-minister-or-a-clergyman-takes-seriously-unfashionable/) [Benjamin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hart/) > [The Reverend Douglas Wilson may not be a professional historian, as his detractors say, but he has a strong grasp of the essentials of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-genovese/the-reverend-douglas-wilson-may-not-be-a-professional-historian-as/) [Eugene Genovese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-genovese/) > [I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true for if so the plain language of the text seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-can-indeed-hardly-see-how-anyone-ought-to-wish-christianity-to-be/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Creflo Dollar is compromising, confusing or outright contradicting essential Christian doctrine. Joel Osteen does exactly the same thing. Now, not necessarily the exact same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-hanegraaff/creflo-dollar-is-compromising-confusing-or-outright-contradicting/) [Hank Hanegraaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-hanegraaff/) > [Now, if the book of Genesis is an allegory, then sin is an allegory, the Fall is an allegory and the need for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/now-if-the-book-of-genesis-is-an-allegory-then-sin-is-an-allegory-the/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [When understanding of the universe has become widespread, when the majority of men know that the stars are not sources of light but worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/when-understanding-of-the-universe-has-become-widespread-when-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship is the doctrine of the gospel, what we are to believe. So when Christian doctrine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-foundation-of-true-holiness-and-true-christian-worship-is-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) ## 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/) > [Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-complex-as-we-find-it-actually/) [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/) [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": "Why did the consensus of Christian churches not only accept these astonishing views but establish them as the only true form of Christian doctrine? . . . these religious debates - questions of the nature of God, or of Christ - simultaneously bear social and political implications that are crucial to the development of Christianity as an institutional religion. 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