Becoming Quote by Jürgen Moltmann
“The motive that impels modern reason to know must be described as the desire to conquer and dominate. For the Greek philosophers and the Fathers of the church, knowing meant something different: it meant knowing in wonder. By knowing or perceiving one participates in the life of the other. Here knowing does not transform the counterpart into the property of the knower; the knower does not appropriate what he knows. On the contrary, he is transformed through sympathy, becoming a participant in what he perceives.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “Theology of Hope” by Jürgen Moltmann, 1964
Modern reason seeks domination, while ancient wisdom sees knowing as a shared, transformative wonder.
In simple terms: Knowing should be relational, not controlling.
Key Takeaway
Seek knowledge with humility and empathy.
Themes
knowledge
humility
wonder
transformation
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- education
- interfaith dialogue
- mentoring
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
phenomenology
theology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we practice knowing as participation?
- What habits foster wonder in learning?
A Different Perspective
Power dynamics can still dominate knowledge pursuits.
![“[Faith] sees in the resurrection of Christ not the eternity of heaven, but the future of the very earth on which his cross stands. It sees in him the future of the very humanity for which he died. That is why it finds the cross the hope of the earth.” quote by Jürgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6d7/j-rgen-moltmann-9122_eschatology_faith-sees-in-the-resurrection-of-christ_251702.jpg)
