--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christianity is, I believe, about…" description: "\"Christianity is, I believe, about expanded life, heightened consciousness and achieving a new humanity. It is not about closed minds, supernatural inte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/john-shelby-spong-1488_believe_christianity-is-i-believe-about-expanded_1832527.png" --- # Christianity is, I believe, about expanded life… ![“Christianity is, I believe, about expanded life, heightened consciousness and achieving a new humanity. It is not about closed minds, supernatural interventions, a fallen creation, guilt, original sin or divine rescue.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/john-shelby-spong-1488_believe_christianity-is-i-believe-about-expanded_1832527.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/john-shelby-spong-1488_believe_christianity-is-i-believe-about-expanded_1832527.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/john-shelby-spong-1488_believe_christianity-is-i-believe-about-expanded_1832527.png) > “Christianity is, I believe, about expanded life, heightened consciousness and achieving a new humanity. It is not about closed minds, supernatural interventions, a fallen creation, guilt, original sin or divine rescue.” [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## 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 redefines Christianity as a path toward personal growth, expanded awareness, and a transformed humanity, rejecting traditional doctrines of sin and supernatural rescue. **In simple terms:** Christianity is about personal growth and new humanity, not guilt or miracles. Key Takeaway Focus on expanding consciousness and fostering humanity. Themes spirituality humanism transformation Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - community building - interfaith dialogue - ethical activism Key Concepts expanded consciousness new humanity secular theology Questions to Reflect On - How can one practice this expanded spirituality daily? - What challenges arise when rejecting traditional doctrines? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of tradition and community rituals for many believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-believe-1066855/) [Closed mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-mind/) [Closed minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-minds/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Fallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [New Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-humanity-978997/) [Original sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-sin/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Rescue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rescue/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [Closed minds don't get feed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/closed-minds-don-t-get-feed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Travelers with closed minds can tell us little except about themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/travelers-with-closed-minds-can-tell-us-little-except-about-themselves/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Open all closed minds with the key to understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-g-duarte/open-all-closed-minds-with-the-key-to-understanding/) [Jeffrey G. Duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-g-duarte/) > [Biblical social scientists have an advantage because they know truths about human nature. Those who dismiss the Bible and create surveys that don't measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/biblical-social-scientists-have-an-advantage-because-they-know-truths/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [I wish to find the keys to open closed minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-eldon-mathews/i-wish-to-find-the-keys-to-open-closed-minds/) [Jay Eldon Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-eldon-mathews/) > [The state of mind must be belief, not mere hope or wish. Open-mindedness is essential for belief. Closed minds do not inspire faith, courage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-state-of-mind-must-be-belief-not-mere-hope-or-wish-open/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“We’re giving Our Book to Earth so that All Earth Souls will Open up to the Universe and be aware of Our Existence. Through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara/we-re-giving-our-book-to-earth-so-that-all-earth-souls-will-open-up/) [Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara/) > [YES - we all know them. You know, those people who will just open their mouths without actually thinking!!! Those people who have little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yes-we-all-know-them-you-know-those-people-who-will-just-open-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's some members of the older generation who have been conditioned with such closed minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-origliasso/there-s-some-members-of-the-older-generation-who-have-been/) [Jessica Origliasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-origliasso/) > [If only closed minds came with closed mouths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-only-closed-minds-came-with-closed-mouths/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Closed minds seldom open doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/closed-minds-seldom-open-doors/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [Why do people with closed minds always open their mouths?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/why-do-people-with-closed-minds-always-open-their-mouths/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Closed minds do not inspire faith, courage, and belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/closed-minds-do-not-inspire-faith-courage-and-belief/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Travellers with closed minds can tell us little except about themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/travellers-with-closed-minds-can-tell-us-little-except-about/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## More by John Shelby Spong > [The way that I see Christianity is that its role is to enhance the life of every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-way-that-i-see-christianity-is-that-its-role-is-to-enhance-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Sins of Scripture is an interesting title; most people don't put sins and scripture together in the same title. It jars people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-sins-of-scripture-is-an-interesting-title-most-people-don-t-put/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“When a human life is open to all that humanity can be, humanity and divinity flow together as one. It was and is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-a-human-life-is-open-to-all-that-humanity-can-be-humanity-and/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. The primary reason the old idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-don-t-see-jesus-as-rescuing-the-fallen-i-see-jesus-as-expanding-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible interprets life from its particular perspective; it does not record in a factual way the human journey through history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-interprets-life-from-its-particular-perspective-it-does-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? 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Sometimes, you're just in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/some-people-think-prayer-stops-bullets-or-rockets-or-land-mines-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Hebrew scriptures say it's okay to enslave anybody except your fellow Jews. It says you should enslave only your neighbors. I say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-hebrew-scriptures-say-it-s-okay-to-enslave-anybody-except-your/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [ I know Jerry \[Falwell\] fairly well, and he's probably not bright enough to recognize all of the implications of what he said. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-know-jerry-falwell-fairly-well-and-he-s-probably-not-bright-enough/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. They're not deviant. 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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 don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christianity is, I believe, about expanded life, heightened consciousness and achieving a new humanity. 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