--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems to me, then, that vulnerability…" description: "\"It seems to me, then, that vulnerability and and self-disclosure are at the heart of what we understand about the nature of God. And the reason I belie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/gene-robinson-14740_believe_it-seems-to-me-then-that-vulnerability-a_2513177.jpg" --- # It seems to me, then, that vulnerability and and… ![“It seems to me, then, that vulnerability and and self-disclosure are at the heart of what we understand about the nature of God. And the reason I believe gay and lesbian people are spiritual people is that we too have participated in vulnerability and self-disclosure, especially in the process of…” quote by Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/gene-robinson-14740_believe_it-seems-to-me-then-that-vulnerability-a_2513177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/gene-robinson-14740_believe_it-seems-to-me-then-that-vulnerability-a_2513177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/gene-robinson-14740_believe_it-seems-to-me-then-that-vulnerability-a_2513177.jpg) > “It seems to me, then, that vulnerability and and self-disclosure are at the heart of what we understand about the nature of God. And the reason I believe gay and lesbian people are spiritual people is that we too have participated in vulnerability and self-disclosure, especially in the process of coming-out. When someone shares with you who they really, really are, it is a special offering. To do so when it risks rejection is a profound, holy gift.” [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vulnerability and honest self‑disclosure connect us to the divine and make coming out a sacred act. **In simple terms:** Being open about who we are is a holy gift. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability as a spiritual practice. Themes faith identity vulnerability LGBTQ+ spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - counseling sessions - support groups - faith communities - personal testimonies Key Concepts theology self‑disclosure coming‑out Questions to Reflect On - How does sharing your true self deepen your spiritual life? - What fears arise when you risk rejection? A Different Perspective Not everyone sees vulnerability as sacred; some view it as risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coming out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-out/) [Disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disclosure/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-god/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-disclosure/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) ## Related quotes > [“Storytelling is a form of self-disclosure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-savage/storytelling-is-a-form-of-self-disclosure/) John S. Savage > [In Christ and by Christ, God effects complete self-disclosure , although He shows Himself not to reason but to faith and love. Faith is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/in-christ-and-by-christ-god-effects-complete-self-disclosure-although/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [One of the characteristics of love relationships that flower is a relatively high degree of mutual self-disclosure - a willingness to let our partner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/one-of-the-characteristics-of-love-relationships-that-flower-is-a-2/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Perhaps the most important reason for self-disclosure is that without it we cannot truly love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-jourard/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-for-self-disclosure-is-that-without/) [Sidney Jourard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-jourard/) > [The real gift of love is self disclosure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/the-real-gift-of-love-is-self-disclosure/) [John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/) > [By definition, memoir demands a certain degree of introspection and self-disclosure: In order to fully engage a reader, the narrator has to make herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/by-definition-memoir-demands-a-certain-degree-of-introspection-and/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [That the speech of self-disclosure should be translatable seems to me very odd, but I am convinced that it is. The conclusion that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/that-the-speech-of-self-disclosure-should-be-translatable-seems-to-me/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [One of the characteristics of love relationships that flower is a relatively high degree of mutual self-disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/one-of-the-characteristics-of-love-relationships-that-flower-is-a/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Confidentiality refers to the boundaries surrounding shared secrets and to the process of guarding these boundaries. While confidentiality protects much that is not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissela-bok/confidentiality-refers-to-the-boundaries-surrounding-shared-secrets/) [Sissela Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissela-bok/) > [If it was really true that predation is God's will, it would have to follow for Christians that the life of Jesus -- what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/if-it-was-really-true-that-predation-is-god-s-will-it-would-have-to/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [“You think if you don’t talk about it, you can just pretend everything is all right? Everything is not all right. Not with us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dave/you-think-if-you-don-t-talk-about-it-you-can-just-pretend-everything/) [Laura Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dave/) > [Authenticity is critical to leadership. That means trying to be yourself - this involves some self-disclosure, admitting what you don't know and being willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/authenticity-is-critical-to-leadership-that-means-trying-to-be/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [“ SELF-DISCLOSURE In order to begin to reveal to your new acquaintance who you really are, it is helpful to discuss topics that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/self-disclosure-in-order-to-begin-to-reveal-to-your-new-acquaintance/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“If suffering like hers had any use, she reasoned, it was not to the sufferer. The only way that an individual's pain gained meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-wood-middlebrook/if-suffering-like-hers-had-any-use-she-reasoned-it-was-not-to-the/) Diane Wood Middlebrook > [“Research in self-disclosure supports my own experience that the personal openness of the guru facilitates and invites the increased openness of the pilgrim. (24)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-b-kopp/research-in-self-disclosure-supports-my-own-experience-that-the/) [Sheldon B. Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-b-kopp/) ## More by Gene Robinson > [When you claim to have the truth, as opposed to the truth as you perceive it, then you move us toward a theocratic view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/when-you-claim-to-have-the-truth-as-opposed-to-the-truth-as-you/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [You know, we live in a time when if somebody wants to kill you, they're going to kill you, and you can either go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/you-know-we-live-in-a-time-when-if-somebody-wants-to-kill-you-they-re/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [It seems to me that if God calls us to anything it's to a life of integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/it-seems-to-me-that-if-god-calls-us-to-anything-it-s-to-a-life-of/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [We love to talk about justice. It's the doing of justice that's hard...I believe it is work we are called to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/we-love-to-talk-about-justice-it-s-the-doing-of-justice-that-s-hard-i/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [“Still, as a straight person, you might say, "This just isn't my fight." No, it isn't. Unless you care about the kind of society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/still-as-a-straight-person-you-might-say-this-just-isn-t-my-fight-no/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [I think my election is one of several indications that gay and lesbian folk are being brought more into the center of things. I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/i-think-my-election-is-one-of-several-indications-that-gay-and/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [Stability is why society has an interest in marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/stability-is-why-society-has-an-interest-in-marriage/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [It is at least a small comfort to me, as a gay rights and marriage equality advocate, to know that like any marriage, gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/it-is-at-least-a-small-comfort-to-me-as-a-gay-rights-and-marriage/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [But by virtue of our baptism, Peter Akinola and I are brothers in Christ and one day we are going to be in heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/but-by-virtue-of-our-baptism-peter-akinola-and-i-are-brothers-in/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [“This is an important point, difficult for the modern mind to grasp: homosexuality as a sexual orientation was unknown to the ancient mind. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/this-is-an-important-point-difficult-for-the-modern-mind-to-grasp/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [Faith is a dynamic and ever-changing process, not some fixed body of truth that exists outside our world and our understanding. God's truth may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/faith-is-a-dynamic-and-ever-changing-process-not-some-fixed-body-of/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [God calls all of his children to the table. We can disagree and even say a lot of hateful things, but what we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/god-calls-all-of-his-children-to-the-table-we-can-disagree-and-even/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [“Remember how social change happens. Each of us has a worldview that pretty much interprets the world for us, puts our personal and public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/remember-how-social-change-happens-each-of-us-has-a-worldview-that/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [The bees learn where they live by landmarks. If they're moved within their home range, they get confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/the-bees-learn-where-they-live-by-landmarks-if-they-re-moved-within/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [What I love about believing in a living God is that I believe God is constantly revealing God's self to us over time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/what-i-love-about-believing-in-a-living-god-is-that-i-believe-god-is/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) [Explore all 45 Gene Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It seems to me, then, that vulnerability and and self-disclosure are at the heart of what we understand about the nature of God. And the reason I believe gay and lesbian people are spiritual people is that we too have participated in vulnerability and self-disclosure, especially in the process of coming-out. When someone shares with you who they really, really are, it is a special offering. 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