--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had once thought that Christianity was…" description: "\"“I had once thought that Christianity was a soft, wish-fulfillment religion. Now I saw that it was entirely the opposite.”\" — Holly Ordway" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/holly-ordway-47261_christianity_i-had-once-thought-that-christianity-was_828912.jpg" --- # I had once thought that Christianity was a soft… ![“I had once thought that Christianity was a soft, wish-fulfillment religion. Now I saw that it was entirely the opposite.” quote by Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/holly-ordway-47261_christianity_i-had-once-thought-that-christianity-was_828912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/holly-ordway-47261_christianity_i-had-once-thought-that-christianity-was_828912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/holly-ordway-47261_christianity_i-had-once-thought-that-christianity-was_828912.jpg) > ““I had once thought that Christianity was a soft, wish-fulfillment religion. Now I saw that it was entirely the opposite.”” [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker realized that Christianity is demanding and rigorous, contrary to earlier expectations of it being merely comforting. **In simple terms:** Christianity can be demanding, not just comforting. Key Takeaway Recognize the depth of faith traditions. Themes faith expectation transformation Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious study - personal crisis - community worship - ethical decision making Key Concepts theology spiritual growth personal revelation Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of Christianity challenge you? - How do you balance its demands with its comforts? A Different Perspective The view may overlook the comforting aspects that also exist within the tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [There are times when I am so unlike myself that I might be taken for someone else of an entirely opposite character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/there-are-times-when-i-am-so-unlike-myself-that-i-might-be-taken-for/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The highest fulfillment of religion requires a giving up of all possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-highest-fulfillment-of-religion-requires-a-giving-up-of-all/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Nature wants us to enjoy life to the full and die without giving it a second thought; Christianity wants the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/nature-wants-us-to-enjoy-life-to-the-full-and-die-without-giving-it-a/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [People are often unhappy in the Christian life because they have thought of Christianity, and the whole message of the gospel, in inadequate terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/people-are-often-unhappy-in-the-christian-life-because-they-have/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Holly Ordway > [“It wasn’t the promise of peace, or joy, or salvation that brought me to Christ, but the promise of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/it-wasn-t-the-promise-of-peace-or-joy-or-salvation-that-brought-me-to/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [“You can't fake joy. Authentic joy is the kind that grows out of the soil of pain and doubt and fear, because that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/you-can-t-fake-joy-authentic-joy-is-the-kind-that-grows-out-of-the/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [“The facts themselves do not compel belief. God will not force us to trust Him. God gives us the ability to respond and graciously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/the-facts-themselves-do-not-compel-belief-god-will-not-force-us-to/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [“If we, who are finite, contingent, created beings, have got God completely figured out, it makes it seem likely that we invented him...If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/if-we-who-are-finite-contingent-created-beings-have-got-god/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [“It is no light matter to meet God after having denied Him all one’s life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/it-is-no-light-matter-to-meet-god-after-having-denied-him-all-one-s/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [“Its helpful to know the reasons for our faith...it helps us not be so vulnerable to doubt, and it helps us not be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/its-helpful-to-know-the-reasons-for-our-faith-it-helps-us-not-be-so/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [“Human experience always contains both pain and joy. One of the reasons we can be confident that Christianity is actually true is it allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/human-experience-always-contains-both-pain-and-joy-one-of-the-reasons/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) [Explore all 8 Holly Ordway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) ## 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": "“I had once thought that Christianity was a soft, wish-fulfillment religion. 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