Adages Quote by George Pattison
“Sartre is one example of someone who does just this. Every text is, after all, a human document and whatever Kierkegaard thought about God was clearly a matter of human thought that can, in principle, be retrieved and interpreted by other human beings. A phenomenological approach to religion must, it seems to me, adopt the old adage: nothing human is alien to me.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Kierkegaard and the Phenomenology of Religion, George Pattison, 2000
Human texts reflect human experience; interpreting them requires acknowledging shared humanity and the capacity to retrieve meaning across individuals.
In simple terms: Human writings are understandable because they come from humans.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared humanity in interpreting religious texts.
Themes
interpretation
humanity
religion
phenomenology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- personal reflection
- textual analysis
Key Concepts
Hermeneutics
existentialism
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing shared humanity affect your reading of sacred texts?
- What challenges arise when interpreting across cultures?
A Different Perspective
Interpretation can be limited by cultural bias and differing presuppositions.
![“But, inevitably, as he [Kierkegaard] approaches what we might call his Christocentric climax many readers drop off. Many scholars just leave that part of his authorship alone.” quote by George Pattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/44a/george-pattison-17005_approach_but-inevitably-as-he-kierkegaard-approac_610234.jpg)
![“I think he [Heidegger] sets the question up in a useful way and, despite appearances, he's not 'against' technology. He just wants us to have a questioning and thoughtful relation to it. This must be relevant to any approach.” quote by George Pattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b4/george-pattison-17005_appearance_i-think-he-heidegger-sets-the-question-u_438353.jpg)
