---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always wondered what it would be…"
description: "\"I've always wondered what it would be like if the Messiah, or Christ Returned, were actually alive and living in our society; who would that person be,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png"
---

#  I've always wondered what it would be like if the Messiah…

![“I've always wondered what it would be like if the Messiah, or Christ Returned, were actually alive and living in our society; who would that person be, how we would identify them, how would they live and what would they believe in, how would society react to them? I decided to try and tell my idea…” quote by James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png)

> “I've always wondered what it would be like if the Messiah, or Christ Returned, were actually alive and living in our society; who would that person be, how we would identify them, how would they live and what would they believe in, how would society react to them? I decided to try and tell my idea of that story.”

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote imagines a modern Messiah and asks how society would recognize and respond to such a figure.

**In simple terms:** Imagines a modern Messiah and society’s reaction.

Key Takeaway

Consider how contemporary values shape expectations of leaders.

Themes

faith society identity leadership myth culture

Mood

thoughtful speculative

Type

philosophical contemplative

When to use this quote

- religious movements
- media analysis
- political discourse
- community response
- cultural studies

Key Concepts

theology social perception political impact

Questions to Reflect On

- What qualities would define a modern messianic figure?
- How would media influence public perception?

A Different Perspective

The concept may oversimplify complex religious and cultural dynamics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Returned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-returned-2781514/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Like Messiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-messiah-2781513/) [Messiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messiah/) [Messiah Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messiah-christ-1417419/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Wondered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondered/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [Obama is correct in saying that the world is ready for someone like him ... a messiah-like figure, charismatic and glib ... The Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-lindsey/obama-is-correct-in-saying-that-the-world-is-ready-for-someone-like/)

[Hal Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-lindsey/)

> [“Father, I serve the Messiah, the Christ. Not any Caesar. His kingdom is not of this world, and no man need fight for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holdsworth/father-i-serve-the-messiah-the-christ-not-any-caesar-his-kingdom-is/)

[David Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holdsworth/)

> [“the second coming we must prepare for is our own. I believe that all of us who take up the torch to carry light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-meade/the-second-coming-we-must-prepare-for-is-our-own-i-believe-that-all/)

[Glenn Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-meade/)

> [Love is love. It doesn't matter how or who you love. I don't believe the messiah would condemn gay men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/love-is-love-it-doesn-t-matter-how-or-who-you-love-i-don-t-believe/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [It's the third book of the Bible, called The Final Testament of the Holy Bible.My idea of what the Messiah would be like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/it-s-the-third-book-of-the-bible-called-the-final-testament-of-the/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [“We do not know this Messiah solely through the red letters in the gospel texts. We know him in his fullness because we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tish-harrison-warren/we-do-not-know-this-messiah-solely-through-the-red-letters-in-the/)

[Tish Harrison Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tish-harrison-warren/)

> [Many even see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-sharma/many-even-see-in-obama-a-messiah-like-figure-a-great-soul-and-some/)

[Dinesh Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-sharma/)

> [“I do not worship a DEAD and buried Christ at Calvary. I worship a ressurected and LIVING Christ in Heaven! Jesus Christ is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-do-not-worship-a-dead-and-buried-christ-at-calvary-i-worship-a/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [As I read, my suspicion that Jesus might really be the Messiah was confirmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-read-my-suspicion-that-jesus-might-really-be-the-messiah-was/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-elleg-rd/i-argue-that-the-jesus-of-the-gospels-is-essentially-a-myth-the/)

[Alvar Ellegård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-elleg-rd/)

> [“We are the messiah for somebody if not for everybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-kushner/we-are-the-messiah-for-somebody-if-not-for-everybody/)

[Harold Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-kushner/)

> [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/)

[John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/)

> [“Despite two millennia of Christian apologetics, the fact is that belief in a dying and rising messiah simply did not exist in Judaism. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/despite-two-millennia-of-christian-apologetics-the-fact-is-that/)

[Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/)

> [I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior, yes the Messiah, the Lord has been born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/i-bring-you-the-most-joyful-news-ever-announced-and-it-is-for/)

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/)

> [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

## More by James Frey

> [“It is a touching story, and it is written more to convince than to tell. I am not convinced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/it-is-a-touching-story-and-it-is-written-more-to-convince-than-to/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [But love is different for every person. For some it's hate, for some it's joy, for some it's fear, for some it's jealousy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/but-love-is-different-for-every-person-for-some-it-s-hate-for-some-it/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [“I close my eyes and I let my body shut itself down and I let my mind wander. It wanders to a familiar place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-close-my-eyes-and-i-let-my-body-shut-itself-down-and-i-let-my-mind/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [He pulled out turned west and started driving towards the glow it was thousands of miles away, he started driving towards the glow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/he-pulled-out-turned-west-and-started-driving-towards-the-glow-it-was/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [“Addiction is a decision. An individual wants something, whatever that something is, and makes a desicion to get it. Once they have it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/addiction-is-a-decision-an-individual-wants-something-whatever-that/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [“I start to cry. Tears begin running down my face and quiet sobs escape me. I don't know what I'm doing and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-start-to-cry-tears-begin-running-down-my-face-and-quiet-sobs-escape/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [The promise of eternal life makes people forsake the life they're given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/the-promise-of-eternal-life-makes-people-forsake-the-life-they-re/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [We know have the power of God in many ways: the atomic bomb, the ability to create life in a test tube, cloning, artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/we-know-have-the-power-of-god-in-many-ways-the-atomic-bomb-the/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [For the worst things of our lives, it is sometimes the best way, to never speak of them again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/for-the-worst-things-of-our-lives-it-is-sometimes-the-best-way-to/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [“Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-something-you-must-first-expand-it/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [The book is about drug addiction and alcoholism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/the-book-is-about-drug-addiction-and-alcoholism/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [And even though people try to pretend that pain doesn't do anything to them, none of us can really handle it. Everything bad we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/and-even-though-people-try-to-pretend-that-pain-doesn-t-do-anything/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [You don't have to follow anybody's rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/you-don-t-have-to-follow-anybody-s-rules/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [I don't care what people come at me with. People have come at me with everything you could imagine. I could care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-care-what-people-come-at-me-with-people-have-come-at-me-with/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [“There is no Higher Power or any God who is responsible for what I do and for what I have done and for who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/there-is-no-higher-power-or-any-god-who-is-responsible-for-what-i-do/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

[Explore all 288 James Frey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

## More Alive quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/)

[Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

[Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've always wondered what it would be like if the Messiah, or Christ Returned, were actually alive and living in our society; who would that person be, how we would identify them, how would they live and what would they believe in, how would society react to them? I decided to try and tell my idea of that story.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Frey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-like-if-the-messiah-or-christ/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-like-if-the-messiah-or-christ/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/james-frey-1108_alive_i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-li_1897807.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've always wondered what it would be like if the Messiah, or Christ Returned, were actually alive and…” — James Frey",
                "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 Frey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've always wondered what it would...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-like-if-the-messiah-or-christ/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-ve-always-wondered-what-it-would-be-like-if-the-messiah-or-christ/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
