--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have maintained that precisely because…" description: "\"“I have maintained that precisely because Christian faith regards the nothing from which the world came forth as absolute ‘non-being, creatureliness im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/john-d-zizioulas-45757_christian-faith_i-have-maintained-that-precisely-because_2835186.jpg" --- # I have maintained that precisely because Christian faith… ![“I have maintained that precisely because Christian faith regards the nothing from which the world came forth as absolute ‘non-being, creatureliness implies that death is a return to the nothingness of nonbeing… Problems essentially derive either from a belief, latent in many Christians, in the…” quote by John D. Zizioulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/john-d-zizioulas-45757_christian-faith_i-have-maintained-that-precisely-because_2835186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/john-d-zizioulas-45757_christian-faith_i-have-maintained-that-precisely-because_2835186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/john-d-zizioulas-45757_christian-faith_i-have-maintained-that-precisely-because_2835186.jpg) > ““I have maintained that precisely because Christian faith regards the nothing from which the world came forth as absolute ‘non-being, creatureliness implies that death is a return to the nothingness of nonbeing… Problems essentially derive either from a belief, latent in many Christians, in the immortality of the soul, whereby death no longer constitutes a return to non-being since the soul, of it’s nature, lives eternally, or from a belief that God does not create mortal beings, and consequently that what is created cannot but live. With regard to the first belief, namely in the immorality of the soul, I have said enough above about the soul not being immortal by nature, since it is not eternal but created. Consequently, it too is subject to the destiny of creation if left to itself. We can certainly speak of an immortality of the soul that is not ‘natural’ by ‘by grace’, but this is possible only by means of a logical contradiction. The fact that the soul can be immortal \*by grace\* does not logically permit us to say that it \*is\* immortal, since the fact that is is created means that it is not immortal in its nature. In fact, it we accept that the soul can be immortal by grace, we implicitly accept that it is not so by nature. Indeed, immortality by grace is conceivable, as we shall, but why limit it to the soul? Immortality by grace, when and where it prevails, concerns the body and the material world in general just as much as the soul. To speak of immortality only with regard to the soul – and only for the soul – even by grace, is a distraction: it involved specially attributing to the soul qualities of immortality. But God does not want only souls to be saved – he wants also the salvation and survival of bodies and of the world as a whole.”” [John D. Zizioulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-zizioulas/) ## 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 argues that Christian doctrine should view death as a return to non‑being, rejecting the notion of an inherently immortal soul and emphasizing that any immortality must be a grace‑granted, not natural, condition extending to bodies and creation. **In simple terms:** Death is a return to non‑being; immortality is a grace‑gift, not natural. Key Takeaway Recognize that true salvation includes both soul and body. Themes theology afterlife grace creation anthropology Mood reflective thoughtful serious Type philosophical theological inspirational When to use this quote - funeral rites - ethical debates on afterlife - pastoral counseling - philosophical discussions - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts non‑being immortality grace creation body‑soul dualism Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean for a created body to be immortal? - How does this view affect our attitudes toward death? A Different Perspective The claim that grace can make the created world immortal may conflict with observable decay and suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-faith/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Material world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-world/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“The nature of immortality is a mystery,' he says, speaking so softly that we have to lean closer to hear.' But everything I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/the-nature-of-immortality-is-a-mystery-he-says-speaking-so-softly/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [We still are looking for someone who knows the secret of immortality. 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With regard to the first belief, namely in the immorality of the soul, I have said enough above about the soul not being immortal by nature, since it is not eternal but created. Consequently, it too is subject to the destiny of creation if left to itself. We can certainly speak of an immortality of the soul that is not ‘natural’ by ‘by grace’, but this is possible only by means of a logical contradiction. The fact that the soul can be immortal *by grace* does not logically permit us to say that it *is* immortal, since the fact that is is created means that it is not immortal in its nature. In fact, it we accept that the soul can be immortal by grace, we implicitly accept that it is not so by nature. Indeed, immortality by grace is conceivable, as we shall, but why limit it to the soul? Immortality by grace, when and where it prevails, concerns the body and the material world in general just as much as the soul. To speak of immortality only with regard to the soul – and only for the soul – even by grace, is a distraction: it involved specially attributing to the soul qualities of immortality. But God does not want only souls to be saved – he wants also the salvation and survival of bodies and of the world as a whole.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John D. 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