--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: either humanity, with all its culture, is…" description: "\"“either humanity, with all its culture, is a means for the unconscious, unreasonable, and purposeless world-power, or it is a means for the glorifying ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png" --- # either humanity, with all its culture, is a means for the… ![“either humanity, with all its culture, is a means for the unconscious, unreasonable, and purposeless world-power, or it is a means for the glorifying of God.” quote by Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png) > ““either humanity, with all its culture, is a means for the unconscious, unreasonable, and purposeless world-power, or it is a means for the glorifying of God.”” [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity either serves an indifferent universe or glorifies God, reflecting a philosophical choice. **In simple terms:** Humanity is either a tool for a meaningless world or for honoring God. Key Takeaway Consider the purpose you assign to humanity. Themes philosophy theology existentialism Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - cultural critique - religious discourse - personal belief systems Key Concepts meaning purpose divine secular Questions to Reflect On - What purpose do you see for humanity? - How do you reconcile secular and sacred meanings? A Different Perspective The dichotomy may oversimplify complex worldviews. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Glorifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorifying-385543/) [Glorifying god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorifying-god/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-culture-1755721/) [Means Glorifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-glorifying-1755722/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [“If you life is an example of glorifying God, others won't see your good works and glorify YOU, because they'll know what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/if-you-life-is-an-example-of-glorifying-god-others-won-t-see-your/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“Self glorification makes life hungry & empty. Glorifying God (giving back all glory to God) fulfills it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indonesia123/self-glorification-makes-life-hungry-empty-glorifying-god-giving-back/) [indonesia123](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indonesia123/) > [“I cannot at the same time accept the glory and give God the glory... Glorifying God means being occupied with and committed to His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-cannot-at-the-same-time-accept-the-glory-and-give-god-the-glory/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [It's one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-s-one-thing-to-go-through-a-crisis-grandly-yet-quite-another-to-go/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Christ’s obscurity was as purposefully planned—and equally glorifying to God—as His journey to fame and His fall from the public’s favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christ-s-obscurity-was-as-purposefully-planned-and-equally-glorifying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our great object of glorifying God is to be mainly achieved by the winning of souls Do not close a single sermon without addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/our-great-object-of-glorifying-god-is-to-be-mainly-achieved-by-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [There are values of humanity, culture, beauty, community that may require deviations from the cold logic of market theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/there-are-values-of-humanity-culture-beauty-community-that-may/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [When even those who should be happy by any reasonable measure are also not happy, there's got to be a serious systemic problem in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/when-even-those-who-should-be-happy-by-any-reasonable-measure-are/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [I love what I do. But what gets annoying about Hollywood is when people get stuck on glorifying themselves! Yuck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamera-mowry/i-love-what-i-do-but-what-gets-annoying-about-hollywood-is-when/) [Tamera Mowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamera-mowry/) > [The Glory of God, and, as our only means of glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-glory-of-god-and-as-our-only-means-of-glorifying-him-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“God glorifies himself in communicating himself, and he communicates himself in glorifying himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/god-glorifies-himself-in-communicating-himself-and-he-communicates/) [David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/) > [It's like tabloid news programs that talk about how horrible something is, while at the same time they're glorifying it as their top story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-like-tabloid-news-programs-that-talk-about-how-horrible/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm interested in glorifying something that we in the world would say doesn't deserve being glorified. Something that's forgotten, focused on as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-m-interested-in-glorifying-something-that-we-in-the-world-would-say/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [“In spiritual matters, the only real glory is in the renunciation of glorifying self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/in-spiritual-matters-the-only-real-glory-is-in-the-renunciation-of/) [Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/) > [Everything is not black-and-white . I'm really interested in the gray area - not justifying it, not glorifying it, not condoning it, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-washington/everything-is-not-black-and-white-i-m-really-interested-in-the-gray/) [Isaiah Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-washington/) ## More by Herman Bavinck > [“Christ is not the founder of Christianity, nor the first confessor of it, nor the first Christian. But he is Christianity itself, in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/christ-is-not-the-founder-of-christianity-nor-the-first-confessor-of/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“Man can as little make propitiation for his sin as he can forgive it himself. But God can do both, atone and forgive; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/man-can-as-little-make-propitiation-for-his-sin-as-he-can-forgive-it/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [Faith and repentance are as much benefits of the covenant of grace as justification . . . . faith and repentance themselves . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/faith-and-repentance-are-as-much-benefits-of-the-covenant-of-grace-as/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“revelation always supposes that man is able to receive impressions or thoughts or inclinations from another than this phenomenal world, and in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/revelation-always-supposes-that-man-is-able-to-receive-impressions-or/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“the plan of salvation in the Christian religion determines the method of Christian theology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/the-plan-of-salvation-in-the-christian-religion-determines-the-method/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“science, which can make known only the interrelations of things, but never their origin, essence and end, will never be able to satisfy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/science-which-can-make-known-only-the-interrelations-of-things-but/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“All culture, whatever significance it may have, just as all education, civilization, development, is absolutely powerless to renew the inner man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/all-culture-whatever-significance-it-may-have-just-as-all-education/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“Without revelation religion sinks back into a pernicious superstition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/without-revelation-religion-sinks-back-into-a-pernicious-superstition/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“The truth and value of Christianity do not depend on the fruits which it has borne for civilization and culture: it has its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/the-truth-and-value-of-christianity-do-not-depend-on-the-fruits-which/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“If the essence of things is unknowable, the misery of man cannot be fathomed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/if-the-essence-of-things-is-unknowable-the-misery-of-man-cannot-be/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“if sin bears an ethical character, then redemption is possible, and conversion is in principle the conquest of sin, the death of the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/if-sin-bears-an-ethical-character-then-redemption-is-possible-and/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“To separate between religion and metaphysics, however often it may have been attempted, is impossible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/to-separate-between-religion-and-metaphysics-however-often-it-may/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“205The segregation and the election of Israel served the sole purpose of maintaining, unmixed and unadulterated, continuing and perfecting, the original revelation, which threatened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/205the-segregation-and-the-election-of-israel-served-the-sole-purpose/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“No psychology of religion can teach us what conversion is and ought to be; the Scriptures alone can tell us that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/no-psychology-of-religion-can-teach-us-what-conversion-is-and-ought/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [“Formerly men said that life was thought, but now we are told that life is will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/formerly-men-said-that-life-was-thought-but-now-we-are-told-that-life/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) [Explore all 105 Herman Bavinck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) ## More Glorifying god quotes > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Worship is not about being cool, it's about being humble and glorifying God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worship-is-not-about-being-cool-it-s-about-being-humble-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A writer of story books! What kind of business in life-what mode of glorifying God, or being serviceable to mankind in his day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/a-writer-of-story-books-what-kind-of-business-in-life-what-mode-of/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Self glorification makes life hungry & empty. Glorifying God (giving back all glory to God) fulfills it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indonesia123/self-glorification-makes-life-hungry-empty-glorifying-god-giving-back/) [indonesia123](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indonesia123/) > [“...ask yourself, "Who's getting the glory in this ministry?" You see, if we do ministry OUR way, it won't be for His glory, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/ask-yourself-who-s-getting-the-glory-in-this-ministry-you-see-if-we/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“We glorify God when we celebrate people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/we-glorify-god-when-we-celebrate-people/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The apex of glorifying God is enjoying Him with the heart. But this is empty emotionalism where that joy is not awakened and sustained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-apex-of-glorifying-god-is-enjoying-him-with-the-heart-but-this-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“But I am arguing that a sloppy, lazy, underachieving attitude is not glorifying to God and is not a joyful or fulfilling approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebekah-merkle/but-i-am-arguing-that-a-sloppy-lazy-underachieving-attitude-is-not/) [Rebekah Merkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebekah-merkle/) > [“when they’ve taken some time and then told me about their thoughts, at the core of nearly every answer is this: a sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-c-heath/when-they-ve-taken-some-time-and-then-told-me-about-their-thoughts-at/) [Emily C. Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-c-heath/) > [Worship is not about my enjoyment. It is about my enjoyment of God. It is not about my pleasure or my delight or my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/worship-is-not-about-my-enjoyment-it-is-about-my-enjoyment-of-god-it/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [“I recall once seeing a commentary advertised as having been written in prison without recourse to other commentaries and by reliance on the Holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-allen/i-recall-once-seeing-a-commentary-advertised-as-having-been-written/) [Leslie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-allen/) > [“I don't believe there is one great thing I was made to do in this world. I believe there is one great God I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/i-don-t-believe-there-is-one-great-thing-i-was-made-to-do-in-this/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [“Most men seem to live for themselves, without much or any regard for thy glory, or for the good of others; They earnestly desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bennett/most-men-seem-to-live-for-themselves-without-much-or-any-regard-for/) [Arthur Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bennett/) > [Our great object of glorifying God is to be mainly achieved by the winning of souls Do not close a single sermon without addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/our-great-object-of-glorifying-god-is-to-be-mainly-achieved-by-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Christ’s obscurity was as purposefully planned—and equally glorifying to God—as His journey to fame and His fall from the public’s favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christ-s-obscurity-was-as-purposefully-planned-and-equally-glorifying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 33 Glorifying god quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorifying-god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“either humanity, with all its culture, is a means for the unconscious, unreasonable, and purposeless world-power, or it is a means for the glorifying of God.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Bavinck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is-a-means-for-the-unconscious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Glorifying god" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is-a-means-for-the-unconscious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/herman-bavinck-4872_glorifying-god_either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is_958440.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“either humanity, with all its culture, is a means for the unconscious, unreasonable, and purposeless…” — Herman Bavinck", "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": "Herman Bavinck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“either humanity, with all its culture,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is-a-means-for-the-unconscious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/either-humanity-with-all-its-culture-is-a-means-for-the-unconscious/#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 } } ] } ```