--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The cross reveals that we're called to a…" description: "\"The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png" --- # The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller… ![“The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png) > “The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing.” [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. Religion limits spiritual experience; moving beyond doctrines opens fuller life. **In simple terms:** Religion can limit spiritual growth. Key Takeaway Explore beyond dogma. Themes spirituality freedom growth Mood hopeful provocative Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - interfaith dialogue - creative expression Key Concepts theology humanism Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries have you outgrown? - How to honor tradition while evolving? A Different Perspective Leaving traditions can cause community loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Atonement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atonement/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Creeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeds/) [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Dimensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dimensions/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-religious/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) ## Related quotes > [The deeper the carpet you're called upon, the deeper the trouble you're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kenworthy/the-deeper-the-carpet-you-re-called-upon-the-deeper-the-trouble-you/) Jim Kenworthy > [If we had reverence for our life, our life would take at once religious form. But as it is, in our filthy irreverence, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/if-we-had-reverence-for-our-life-our-life-would-take-at-once/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [I do have a memo all the time because I need to be guided by something in my life. I'm not religious and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-do-have-a-memo-all-the-time-because-i-need-to-be-guided-by/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [I'm pro-life, and what my religious foundation in the cornerstone of my life teaches me is to protect life before birth and after birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-youngkin/i-m-pro-life-and-what-my-religious-foundation-in-the-cornerstone-of/) [Glenn Youngkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-youngkin/) > [Work is life for me, it is the only point of life-and with it there is almost religious belief that service is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/work-is-life-for-me-it-is-the-only-point-of-life-and-with-it-there-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a quester or a searcher for the truth. I don't really think there is one answer, so I never went looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-m-not-a-quester-or-a-searcher-for-the-truth-i-don-t-really-think/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [It's possible to get through life without a religious structure, but I don't think that's a very fruitful way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/it-s-possible-to-get-through-life-without-a-religious-structure-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [It really takes a hero to live any kind of spiritual life without religious belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/it-really-takes-a-hero-to-live-any-kind-of-spiritual-life-without/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [“If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize, who you are and what you want to become in life, then you empower other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-don-t-make-a-conscious-effort-to-visualize-who-you-are-and/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [God is to be found not by stepping aside from the flow of daily life into religious moments and environments, or by looking away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-philip-newell/god-is-to-be-found-not-by-stepping-aside-from-the-flow-of-daily-life/) John Philip Newell > [“The “with God” life is not a life of more religious activities or devotions or trying to be good. It is a life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-with-god-life-is-not-a-life-of-more-religious-activities-or/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Life is mundane. Life is religious. Life is spiritual. With the change of thought our life changes its titles and significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-mundane-life-is-religious-life-is-spiritual-with-the-change/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [By respect for life we become religious in a way that is elementary, profound and alive. Impart as much as you can of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/by-respect-for-life-we-become-religious-in-a-way-that-is-elementary/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I only drank for three years of my life, but I drank enough in those three years to last me the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-robbins/i-only-drank-for-three-years-of-my-life-but-i-drank-enough-in-those/) [Marty Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-robbins/) > [So many religions are there because so many people are unhappy. A happy person needs no religion; a happy person needs no temple, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-many-religions-are-there-because-so-many-people-are-unhappy-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## 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 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 > [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": "The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Shelby Spong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a-deeper-fuller-experience-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a-deeper-fuller-experience-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/john-shelby-spong-1488_alive_the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a_303638.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to…” — John Shelby Spong", "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": "John Shelby Spong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The cross reveals that we're called...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a-deeper-fuller-experience-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-cross-reveals-that-we-re-called-to-a-deeper-fuller-experience-of/#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 } } ] } ```