--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are some great values in…" description: "\"There are some great values in Christianity, but I think the values are located more deeply in our humanity than they are in our religion. There are ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/john-shelby-spong-1488_christianity_there-are-some-great-values-in-christian_1788028.png" --- # There are some great values in Christianity, but I think… ![“There are some great values in Christianity, but I think the values are located more deeply in our humanity than they are in our religion. There are certainly some survival values.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/john-shelby-spong-1488_christianity_there-are-some-great-values-in-christian_1788028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/john-shelby-spong-1488_christianity_there-are-some-great-values-in-christian_1788028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/john-shelby-spong-1488_christianity_there-are-some-great-values-in-christian_1788028.png) > “There are some great values in Christianity, but I think the values are located more deeply in our humanity than they are in our religion. There are certainly some survival values.” [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. Humanity holds core moral values that often predate and exceed religious teachings, though religion can reinforce them. **In simple terms:** Human values are deeper than religion. Key Takeaway Recognize shared humanity beyond doctrine. Themes ethics humanism religion values Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - education - community building - policy making Key Concepts moral philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor both universal humanity and personal faith? - What values are truly universal? A Different Perspective Religious traditions may still shape values for many people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“Yet I returned to the central values of Christianity - sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness - because I found them so compelling. There is a tension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kalanithi/yet-i-returned-to-the-central-values-of-christianity-sacrifice/) [Paul Kalanithi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kalanithi/) > [The Bible Belt, the religious South, is the section of the country that practiced slavery until the war made them give it up. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-belt-the-religious-south-is-the-section-of-the-country-that/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I think that's why I'm so well-suited to this time, because I think the values reflect really profound American values, and I think my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-that-s-why-i-m-so-well-suited-to-this-time-because-i-think/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think values are really, really important, but I also think that too many values are just words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-think-values-are-really-really-important-but-i-also-think-that-too/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [At the end of the day, tech workers are not robots: they feel, they think, they have values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-lee/at-the-end-of-the-day-tech-workers-are-not-robots-they-feel-they/) [Ed Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-lee/) > [“We think about our values in pairs, and there is a tension or a balance between them. We talk about listening and leadership; accountability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-bryant/we-think-about-our-values-in-pairs-and-there-is-a-tension-or-a/) Adam Bryant > [The way you speak of the characters in your story shows what you think of the values of conservatives‚ or evolution, for example. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-way-you-speak-of-the-characters-in-your-story-shows-what-you/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“We often think of our values as lofty qualities that are called upon when we face harrowing circumstances, rather than a source of fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-perrin/we-often-think-of-our-values-as-lofty-qualities-that-are-called-upon/) Annie Perrin > [I can't believe in Christianity, but I think Jesus was a wonderful teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-can-t-believe-in-christianity-but-i-think-jesus-was-a-wonderful/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [“Think through which values, abilities, and skills you are looking for (in that order).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/think-through-which-values-abilities-and-skills-you-are-looking-for/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“We think that if our values aren’t the correct ones, we would have other ones, which would then be the correct ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-think-that-if-our-values-aren-t-the-correct-ones-we-would-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I think your values are always influenced by your family and your community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-think-your-values-are-always-influenced-by-your-family-and-your/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [If we were able to rewrite the script for the reputation of Christianity, I think we would put the emphasis on developing relationships with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/if-we-were-able-to-rewrite-the-script-for-the-reputation-of/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“Today everybody admits that something is wrong with the world, and the critics of Christianity are the very people who feel this most. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-henry-dawson/today-everybody-admits-that-something-is-wrong-with-the-world-and-the/) [Christopher Henry Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-henry-dawson/) > [My background is that I came from a middle class family, and I think those values stay where ever you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/my-background-is-that-i-came-from-a-middle-class-family-and-i-think/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) ## 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 Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are some great values in Christianity, but I think the values are located more deeply in our humanity than they are in our religion. 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