--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christendom has often achieved apparent…" description: "\"Christendom has often achieved apparent success by ignoring the precepts of its founder.\" — H. Richard Niebuhr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/h-richard-niebuhr-37547_christendom_christendom-has-often-achieved-apparent_2440831.png" --- # Christendom has often achieved apparent success by… ![“Christendom has often achieved apparent success by ignoring the precepts of its founder.” quote by H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/h-richard-niebuhr-37547_christendom_christendom-has-often-achieved-apparent_2440831.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/h-richard-niebuhr-37547_christendom_christendom-has-often-achieved-apparent_2440831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/h-richard-niebuhr-37547_christendom_christendom-has-often-achieved-apparent_2440831.png) > “Christendom has often achieved apparent success by ignoring the precepts of its founder.” [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christendom often succeeds superficially by neglecting its founder’s core teachings. **In simple terms:** Ignoring founder’s teachings leads to hollow success. Key Takeaway Align practice with original principles. Themes religion institution authenticity Mood critical thoughtful Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church leadership - social movements - policy making Key Concepts theology history Questions to Reflect On - What core teachings are being ignored? - How can institutions stay true to origins? A Different Perspective Success may be unsustainable without core values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christendom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christendom/) [Christendom Achieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christendom-achieved-486642/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Ignoring Precepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignoring-precepts-486643/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Precepts Founder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precepts-founder-486645/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Ignoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-ignoring-486644/) ## Related quotes > [The founders of that ancient empire were robbers and women stealers, and made laws favoring monogamy in consequence of the scarcity of women among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-founders-of-that-ancient-empire-were-robbers-and-women-stealers/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [The religion of Christ is peace and good-will,--the religion of Christendom is war and ill-will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-religion-of-christ-is-peace-and-good-will-the-religion-of/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [To large numbers of American citizens life in certain parts of the country becomes intolerably hazardous. They may be seized on any pretext, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/to-large-numbers-of-american-citizens-life-in-certain-parts-of-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Some of the simplest of truths are also some of the most difficult of truths, but such is Christianity: 'If it's not about Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/some-of-the-simplest-of-truths-are-also-some-of-the-most-difficult-of/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Now that they talk about Islam as being a violent faith, when you look at the history of Christendom, the Crusades and the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/now-that-they-talk-about-islam-as-being-a-violent-faith-when-you-look/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [For a thousand years no king in Christendom has shown such greatness or given so high a type of manly virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/for-a-thousand-years-no-king-in-christendom-has-shown-such-greatness/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [“But Christendom was not merely a community of warriors or even a community of the nobility. It was a civilization! Unfortunately, for generations everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/but-christendom-was-not-merely-a-community-of-warriors-or-even-a/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [I repeat that in this sense the most splendid court in Christendom is provincial, having authority to consult about Transalpine interests only, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-repeat-that-in-this-sense-the-most-splendid-court-in-christendom-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is Mind which determines the change of Society, and it was because the mind at work was a Catholic mind that the slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/it-is-mind-which-determines-the-change-of-society-and-it-was-because/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I prayed for the first time in a very long time today. I explained to God that unless he wanted the Marxist-Islamic alliance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-behring-breivik/i-prayed-for-the-first-time-in-a-very-long-time-today-i-explained-to/) [Anders Behring Breivik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-behring-breivik/) > [Christendom appears clearly to me to be one of those trifling, insignificant arts, which has never been of any substantial advantage to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hicks/christendom-appears-clearly-to-me-to-be-one-of-those-trifling/) [Edward Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hicks/) > [Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak. Christians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/christianity-stands-or-falls-with-its-revolutionary-protest-against/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Scientific accuracy confirms the Bible is the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/scientific-accuracy-confirms-the-bible-is-the-word-of-god/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [In the Christianity of Christendom the Cross has become something like the child’s hobby-horse and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-christianity-of-christendom-the-cross-has-become-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by H. Richard Niebuhr > [The great Christian revolutions came not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when someone takes radically something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/the-great-christian-revolutions-came-not-by-the-discovery-of/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [It is imperative that the past of the pilgrims' progress be intentionally carried forward into the present as we work into our future. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/it-is-imperative-that-the-past-of-the-pilgrims-progress-be/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [Religion makes good people better and bad people worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/religion-makes-good-people-better-and-bad-people-worse/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [The way to the organic, active peace of brotherhood leads through the hearts of peacemakers who will knit together, with patience and self-sacrifice, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/the-way-to-the-organic-active-peace-of-brotherhood-leads-through-the/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/a-god-without-wrath-brought-men-without-sin-into-a-kingdom-without/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [Apart from the resurrection of Jesus, the eschatological orientation of the church appears as the spoke of a wheel without a hub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/apart-from-the-resurrection-of-jesus-the-eschatological-orientation/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [Men are generally right in what they affirm and wrong in what they deny. What we deny is generally something that lies outside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/men-are-generally-right-in-what-they-affirm-and-wrong-in-what-they/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [A God without wrath brought human beings without sin into a kingdom without judgment through ministrations of a Christ without a cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/a-god-without-wrath-brought-human-beings-without-sin-into-a-kingdom/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [Everyone has some kind of philosophy, some general worldview, which to men of other views will seem mythological.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/everyone-has-some-kind-of-philosophy-some-general-worldview-which-to/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [Pilgrims are poets who create by taking journeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/pilgrims-are-poets-who-create-by-taking-journeys/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [Pilgrims are persons in motion passing through territories not their own, seeking something we might call completion, or perhaps the word clarity will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/pilgrims-are-persons-in-motion-passing-through-territories-not-their/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) [Explore all 12 H. Richard Niebuhr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) ## More Christendom quotes > [In the Christianity of Christendom the Cross has become something like the child’s hobby-horse and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-christianity-of-christendom-the-cross-has-become-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scientific accuracy confirms the Bible is the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/scientific-accuracy-confirms-the-bible-is-the-word-of-god/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak. Christians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/christianity-stands-or-falls-with-its-revolutionary-protest-against/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Christendom appears clearly to me to be one of those trifling, insignificant arts, which has never been of any substantial advantage to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hicks/christendom-appears-clearly-to-me-to-be-one-of-those-trifling/) [Edward Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hicks/) > [I prayed for the first time in a very long time today. I explained to God that unless he wanted the Marxist-Islamic alliance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-behring-breivik/i-prayed-for-the-first-time-in-a-very-long-time-today-i-explained-to/) [Anders Behring Breivik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-behring-breivik/) > [It is Mind which determines the change of Society, and it was because the mind at work was a Catholic mind that the slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/it-is-mind-which-determines-the-change-of-society-and-it-was-because/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I repeat that in this sense the most splendid court in Christendom is provincial, having authority to consult about Transalpine interests only, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-repeat-that-in-this-sense-the-most-splendid-court-in-christendom-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“But Christendom was not merely a community of warriors or even a community of the nobility. It was a civilization! Unfortunately, for generations everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/but-christendom-was-not-merely-a-community-of-warriors-or-even-a/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [For a thousand years no king in Christendom has shown such greatness or given so high a type of manly virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/for-a-thousand-years-no-king-in-christendom-has-shown-such-greatness/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [Now that they talk about Islam as being a violent faith, when you look at the history of Christendom, the Crusades and the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/now-that-they-talk-about-islam-as-being-a-violent-faith-when-you-look/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Some of the simplest of truths are also some of the most difficult of truths, but such is Christianity: 'If it's not about Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/some-of-the-simplest-of-truths-are-also-some-of-the-most-difficult-of/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [To large numbers of American citizens life in certain parts of the country becomes intolerably hazardous. They may be seized on any pretext, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/to-large-numbers-of-american-citizens-life-in-certain-parts-of-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The religion of Christ is peace and good-will,--the religion of Christendom is war and ill-will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-religion-of-christ-is-peace-and-good-will-the-religion-of/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [The Mass is the greatest blasphemy of God, and the highest idolatry upon earth, an abomination the like of which has never been in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-mass-is-the-greatest-blasphemy-of-god-and-the-highest-idolatry/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Browse all 118 Christendom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christendom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christendom has often achieved apparent success by ignoring the precepts of its founder.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. 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