--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let me say that I consider myself a deep…" description: "\"Let me say that I consider myself a deep believer in the reality of God. I might define God quite differently from the way some people in the Christian..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/john-shelby-spong-1488_belief_let-me-say-that-i-consider-myself-a-deep_260148.png" --- # Let me say that I consider myself a deep believer in the… ![“Let me say that I consider myself a deep believer in the reality of God. I might define God quite differently from the way some people in the Christian faith would do so, but I do not doubt the reality of that experience.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/john-shelby-spong-1488_belief_let-me-say-that-i-consider-myself-a-deep_260148.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/john-shelby-spong-1488_belief_let-me-say-that-i-consider-myself-a-deep_260148.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/john-shelby-spong-1488_belief_let-me-say-that-i-consider-myself-a-deep_260148.png) > “Let me say that I consider myself a deep believer in the reality of God. I might define God quite differently from the way some people in the Christian faith would do so, but I do not doubt the reality of that experience.” [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. He affirms belief in a divine reality while acknowledging diverse definitions across faiths. **In simple terms:** Believes in God but defines Him differently. Key Takeaway Respect personal spiritual experience. Themes faith spirituality pluralism Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal belief - interfaith discussions - religious education Key Concepts theology subjective experience interfaith dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal belief with organized religion? - What defines a “reality” of experience? A Different Perspective May conflict with doctrinal exclusivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-faith/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that God is very real. I believe that I live my life every day inside the reality of this God. I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-believe-that-god-is-very-real-i-believe-that-i-live-my-life-every/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I go into the Hebrew Scriptures frequently, looking for different ways in which minority voices have expressed the reality of God, and I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-go-into-the-hebrew-scriptures-frequently-looking-for-different-ways/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [My audience is made up of two groups of people. The first group includes people whose roots are deep in the Christian faith, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-audience-is-made-up-of-two-groups-of-people-the-first-group/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I think the story of the Christian faith is how you can become more deeply and fully human, not how you can become religious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-think-the-story-of-the-christian-faith-is-how-you-can-become-more/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [When I look back at the Christian faith, I see that we have had to retranslate, almost reinvent ourselves a number of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-i-look-back-at-the-christian-faith-i-see-that-we-have-had-to/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Protestant reformation was an attempt to recast the Christian faith in terms of the new learning of the 16th century, the enlightenment learning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-protestant-reformation-was-an-attempt-to-recast-the-christian/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“Watch your mouth: The language we use creates the reality we experience. —Michael Hyatt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystal-evans-hurst/watch-your-mouth-the-language-we-use-creates-the-reality-we/) [Chrystal Evans Hurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystal-evans-hurst/) > [“Physical reality is only a mirror. And whatever you define it to be; whatever you believe is most true, is what you get. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar/physical-reality-is-only-a-mirror-and-whatever-you-define-it-to-be/) [Bashar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar/) > [“No one can describe reality. You must experience it, see it, feel the whole atmosphere of it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/no-one-can-describe-reality-you-must-experience-it-see-it-feel-the/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The reality you experience is a reflection of what you believe is most possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/the-reality-you-experience-is-a-reflection-of-what-you-believe-is/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [I don't believe there's any such thing as objective reality. It's only reality as we experience it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/i-don-t-believe-there-s-any-such-thing-as-objective-reality-it-s-only/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [Reality is not so much what happens to us; rather, it is how we think about those events that create the reality we experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/reality-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-us-rather-it-is-how-we-think/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“You cannot know yourself alone, any more than you can see your own face without a mirror. ... So it was now with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-klavan/you-cannot-know-yourself-alone-any-more-than-you-can-see-your-own/) [Andrew Klavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-klavan/) > [“According to the Law of Attraction, the physical reality that you experience at present is drawn towards the future probability you desired when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/according-to-the-law-of-attraction-the-physical-reality-that-you/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“Many can argue that reality is as it is, but my experience is that the opposite is exactly true. Reality is ours for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asara-lovejoy/many-can-argue-that-reality-is-as-it-is-but-my-experience-is-that-the/) Asara Lovejoy ## 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? Does it build up or does it tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-basis-of-morality-is-this-does-this-action-enhance-life-or-does-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I want the traditional family upheld, but I don't want it upheld to the detriment of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-want-the-traditional-family-upheld-but-i-don-t-want-it-upheld-to/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-live-in-a-very-pluralistic-society-today-there-are-buddhists/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible was written between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and it's filled with the knowledge that people had in that period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-was-written-between-3-000-and-2-000-years-ago-and-it-s/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We are in a survival mentality, and that's hard-wired into our humanity, because we are the winners of an evolutionary struggle of millions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-are-in-a-survival-mentality-and-that-s-hard-wired-into-our/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Some people think prayer stops bullets or rockets or land mines. It doesn't. That's magic, that's not God. 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. They're deviant only if you say that anyone who is different from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/benedict-xvi-kept-saying-that-homosexuals-are-deviant-they-re-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [ I find it fascinating that Paul \[the apostol\], writing to the Galatians, responds to the question, "What does it mean to live in Christ?"… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-find-it-fascinating-that-paul-the-apostol-writing-to-the-galatians/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) [Explore all 236 John Shelby Spong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. 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