---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The primary declaration of Christianity…"
description: "\"The primary declaration of Christianity is not \"This do!\" but \"This happened!\" — Evelyn Underhill"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png"
---

#  The primary declaration of Christianity is not "This do!"…

![“The primary declaration of Christianity is not &quot;This do!&quot; but &quot;This happened!” quote by Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png)

> “The primary declaration of Christianity is not "This do!" but "This happened!”

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

## About This Quote

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

Christian faith emphasizes that divine events, not mere commands, shape belief and practice.

**In simple terms:** Faith focuses on what happened, not just what to do.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on lived experiences of faith.

Themes

faith experience spirituality belief

Mood

reflective spiritual thoughtful

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- church services
- personal prayer
- historical study
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

theology historical revelation personal testimony

Questions to Reflect On

- How have personal experiences shaped your faith?
- What role do commandments play alongside events?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on events may neglect moral action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/)

[Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/)

> [That government is best which governs the least, so taught the courageous founders of this nation. This simple declaration is diametrically opposed to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/that-government-is-best-which-governs-the-least-so-taught-the/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [Shaking off restrictive chains requires action. They cannot be wished away. A declaration will never break chains. It requires commitment, self-discipline, and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/shaking-off-restrictive-chains-requires-action-they-cannot-be-wished/)

[Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/)

> [The Declaration of Independence, the words that launched our nation -- 1,300 words. The Bible, the word of God -- 773,000 words. The Tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/the-declaration-of-independence-the-words-that-launched-our-nation-1/)

[Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/)

> [“I've tired so hard to stay away from you, buy your soul is so powerful. It can't be ignored. It calls to me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-ve-tired-so-hard-to-stay-away-from-you-buy-your-soul-is-so-powerful/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-is-more-disgusting-than-the-crowing-about-liberty-by-slaves/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Making a definitive declaration of intent or meaning kills the photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daido-moriyama/making-a-definitive-declaration-of-intent-or-meaning-kills-the/)

[Daido Moriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daido-moriyama/)

> [I have read and re-read the Arusha Declaration and found nothing wrong with it except perhaps replacing a few commas here and there... it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/i-have-read-and-re-read-the-arusha-declaration-and-found-nothing/)

[Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/)

> [Scott noticed Will staring at it and grinned. "Like what you see?" Woolsey Scott asked. "I do enjoy these surprise midnight declarations. Go along,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/scott-noticed-will-staring-at-it-and-grinned-like-what-you-see/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“It was to accomplish this lofty purpose basic to all liberty that God “established the Constitution of this land by the hands of wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/it-was-to-accomplish-this-lofty-purpose-basic-to-all-liberty-that-god/)

[Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/)

> [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/)

Joe Pitts

> [It was often this way, life consisted of a series of false beginnings, bluff declarations of arrival to destinations not even glimpsed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/it-was-often-this-way-life-consisted-of-a-series-of-false-beginnings/)

[Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/)

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## More by Evelyn Underhill

> [Sometimes I think the resurrection of the body, unless much improved in construction, a mistake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/sometimes-i-think-the-resurrection-of-the-body-unless-much-improved/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [But so many Christians are like deaf people at a concert. They study the programme carefully, believe every statement make in it, speak respectfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/but-so-many-christians-are-like-deaf-people-at-a-concert-they-study/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [“Therefore it is to a practical mysticism that the practical man is here invited: to a training of his latent faculties, a bracing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/therefore-it-is-to-a-practical-mysticism-that-the-practical-man-is/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [When you let intution have its way with you, you open up new levels of the world. Such opening-up is the most practical of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/when-you-let-intution-have-its-way-with-you-you-open-up-new-levels-of/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [In mysticism that love of truth which we saw as the beginning of all philosophy leaves the merely intellectual sphere, and takes on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/in-mysticism-that-love-of-truth-which-we-saw-as-the-beginning-of-all/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [As the social self can only be developed by contact with society, so the spiritual self can only be developed by contact with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/as-the-social-self-can-only-be-developed-by-contact-with-society-so/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [No metaphysician has yet shaken the ordinary individual's belief in his own existence. The uncertainties only begin for most of us when we ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/no-metaphysician-has-yet-shaken-the-ordinary-individual-s-belief-in/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [Love makes the whole difference between an execution and a martyrdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/love-makes-the-whole-difference-between-an-execution-and-a-martyrdom/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [A simple rule, to be followed whether one is in the light or not, gives backbone to one's spiritual life, as nothing else can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/a-simple-rule-to-be-followed-whether-one-is-in-the-light-or-not-gives/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [Every minute you are thinking of evil, you might have been thinking of good instead. Refuse to pander to a morbid interest in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/every-minute-you-are-thinking-of-evil-you-might-have-been-thinking-of/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully. Lots of us manage to exist for years without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/it-seems-so-much-easier-in-these-days-to-live-morally-than-to-live/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [It is far easier, though not very easy, to develop and preserve a spiritual outlook on life than it is to make our everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/it-is-far-easier-though-not-very-easy-to-develop-and-preserve-a/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [though humility and acknowledgement of one's real failings is good, the gratuitous eating of worms not put before us by God does not nourish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/though-humility-and-acknowledgement-of-one-s-real-failings-is-good/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [Delicate humor is the crowning virtue of the saints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/delicate-humor-is-the-crowning-virtue-of-the-saints/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [All things are perceived in the light of charity, and hence under the aspect of beauty; for beauty is simply reality seen with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/all-things-are-perceived-in-the-light-of-charity-and-hence-under-the/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

[Explore all 116 Evelyn Underhill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

## More Christianity quotes

> [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/)

[Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/)

[Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

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

> [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

[Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The primary declaration of Christianity is not \"This do!\" but \"This happened!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Evelyn Underhill"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-primary-declaration-of-christianity-is-not-this-do-but-this/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christianity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-primary-declaration-of-christianity-is-not-this-do-but-this/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/359/evelyn-underhill-4102_christianity_the-primary-declaration-of-christianity_3205779.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The primary declaration of Christianity is not \"This do!\" but \"This happened!” — Evelyn Underhill",
                "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": "Evelyn Underhill",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The primary declaration of Christianity is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-primary-declaration-of-christianity-is-not-this-do-but-this/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-primary-declaration-of-christianity-is-not-this-do-but-this/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
