--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm trying to make the case that the…" description: "\"I'm trying to make the case that the church can indeed, from within its own resources, move out of a false, and often a hateful, characterization of an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg" --- # I'm trying to make the case that the church can indeed… ![“I'm trying to make the case that the church can indeed, from within its own resources, move out of a false, and often a hateful, characterization of and set of attitudes toward gay and lesbian people.” quote by James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg) > “I'm trying to make the case that the church can indeed, from within its own resources, move out of a false, and often a hateful, characterization of and set of attitudes toward gay and lesbian people.” [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for the church to use its own resources to change hateful attitudes toward gay and lesbian people. **In simple terms:** Church can reform its view of LGBTQ people using its own means. Key Takeaway Promote compassionate, inclusive theology. Themes inclusion faith LGBTQ rights reformation compassion Mood hopeful determined reflective Type inspirational persuasive When to use this quote - church leadership meetings - seminary curricula - faith community dialogues - policy drafting Key Concepts theology social justice institutional change Questions to Reflect On - How can internal resources be mobilized for change? - What theological arguments support inclusion? A Different Perspective Resistance from traditionalist factions may slow progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Characterization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characterization/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The community which does not protect its humblest and most hated member in the free utterance of his opinions, no matter how false or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/the-community-which-does-not-protect-its-humblest-and-most-hated/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [He defined me first, as parents do. Those early characterizations can become the shimmering self-image we embrace or the limited, stifling perception we rail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-corrigan/he-defined-me-first-as-parents-do-those-early-characterizations-can/) [Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-corrigan/) > [“the characterization of actions allegedly prior to any narrative form being imposed upon them will always turn out to be the presentation of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alasdair-macintyre/the-characterization-of-actions-allegedly-prior-to-any-narrative-form/) [Alasdair MacIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alasdair-macintyre/) > [Because the world of this film begins and ends in the imagination of Tim Burton, you're not seeing a movie that's been shot on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/because-the-world-of-this-film-begins-and-ends-in-the-imagination-of/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I think my wife would take objection to any characterization of me as perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blair-henry/i-think-my-wife-would-take-objection-to-any-characterization-of-me-as/) [Peter Blair Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blair-henry/) > [There are technical tricks that may help you create more effective characters. My approach to characterization is not at all technical. I can't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/there-are-technical-tricks-that-may-help-you-create-more-effective/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [Characterization requires a constant back-and-forth between the exterior events of the story and the inner life of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-corbett/characterization-requires-a-constant-back-and-forth-between-the/) [David Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-corbett/) > [Now, learning how to make a movie is something you can figure out in about an afternoon. The physics of it, the marks, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/now-learning-how-to-make-a-movie-is-something-you-can-figure-out-in/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [I think with any characterization there's a point where you empathize, no matter how much of a deviance his or her actions may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-think-with-any-characterization-there-s-a-point-where-you-empathize/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Characterization requires self-knowledge, insight into human nature . . . it is more than impersonation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-surmelian/characterization-requires-self-knowledge-insight-into-human-nature-it/) Leon Surmelian > [“I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much, He is a great observer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-do-not-know-the-man-i-should-avoid-so-soon-as-that-spare-cassius-he/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Characterization is not divorced from plot, not a coat of paint you slap on after the structure of events is already built. Rather characterization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-kress/characterization-is-not-divorced-from-plot-not-a-coat-of-paint-you/) [Nancy Kress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-kress/) > [You can use the fun of the genre, but I also really wanted to come at it from the point of view of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-hodges/you-can-use-the-fun-of-the-genre-but-i-also-really-wanted-to-come-at/) [Adrian Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-hodges/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [ Steve \[King\] has been incredibly supportive. He's also really good about getting back to me when I have questions about plot or characterization. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-furth/steve-king-has-been-incredibly-supportive-he-s-also-really-good-about/) [Robin Furth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-furth/) ## More by James Alison > [Give people a common enemy, and you will give them a common identity. Deprive them of an enemy and you will deprive them of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/give-people-a-common-enemy-and-you-will-give-them-a-common-identity/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [I'm not sure that I've ever been drawn to the academic life as such. Theology has been a matter of survival for me. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-not-sure-that-i-ve-ever-been-drawn-to-the-academic-life-as-such/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [I think I have quite traditional views on original sin, grace, and the real but difficult nature of we humans being able to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-think-i-have-quite-traditional-views-on-original-sin-grace-and-the/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [The silence of those in positions of influence in the church who know, or have a strong suspicion, that being gay is a nonpathological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/the-silence-of-those-in-positions-of-influence-in-the-church-who-know/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [My own belief is that being gay is a regularly occurring nonpathological minority variant in the human condition, and that an appropriate analogy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/my-own-belief-is-that-being-gay-is-a-regularly-occurring/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [I'm honestly not sure that I've ever tried to talk as a theologian about "homosexual acts," per se. My disagreement with the current teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-honestly-not-sure-that-i-ve-ever-tried-to-talk-as-a-theologian/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [“The doctrine of original sin is the doctrine according to which divine forgiveness makes known the accidental nature of human mortality, thus permitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/the-doctrine-of-original-sin-is-the-doctrine-according-to-which/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [“And this is what it means to be able to see yourself as a sinner: far from “seeing yourself as a sinner” being some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/and-this-is-what-it-means-to-be-able-to-see-yourself-as-a-sinner-far/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [I'm not much of a multitasker, and when I'm in productive mode, organizational things suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-not-much-of-a-multitasker-and-when-i-m-in-productive-mode/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) > [Part of my motivation in the search for a cause of being gay was the need to find "something that has gone wrong that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/part-of-my-motivation-in-the-search-for-a-cause-of-being-gay-was-the/) [James Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) [Explore all 11 James Alison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm trying to make the case that the church can indeed, from within its own resources, move out of a false, and often a hateful, characterization of and set of attitudes toward gay and lesbian people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Alison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-church-can-indeed-from-within/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-church-can-indeed-from-within/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/james-alison-39107_attitude_i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-chu_1446291.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm trying to make the case that the church can indeed, from within its own resources, move out of a false…” — James Alison", "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": "James Alison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm trying to make the case...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-church-can-indeed-from-within/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alison/i-m-trying-to-make-the-case-that-the-church-can-indeed-from-within/#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 } } ] } ```