Believer Quote by John Irving
“You don't have to be in the habit of going to church to listen to such a literary minister; you don't have to be a believer to be moved by Mr. Buechner's faith.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, 1995
One can appreciate literary depth without religious belief; faith can be admired artistically.
In simple terms: Appreciate faith in literature without belief.
Key Takeaway
Value artistic expression of faith.
Themes
literature
faith
belief
artistic appreciation
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading groups
- interfaith dialogues
- personal growth
Key Concepts
spiritual themes
secular analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How does faith influence your reading?
- Can you separate belief from artistic merit?
A Different Perspective
May conflate artistic faith with personal belief.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
![“I do not make decisions [as governor] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious classes in school. I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what . . . the law is.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_believer_i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-base_18031.jpg)
