--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There never was a time when we were…" description: "\"There never was a time when we were created perfect and fell into sin and needed to be rescued. We are evolving people; we are not fallen people. We ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/john-shelby-spong-1488_angel_there-never-was-a-time-when-we-were-crea_2637041.png" --- # There never was a time when we were created perfect and… ![“There never was a time when we were created perfect and fell into sin and needed to be rescued. We are evolving people; we are not fallen people. We are not a little lower than the angels. We're a little higher than the apes. It's a very different perspective.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/john-shelby-spong-1488_angel_there-never-was-a-time-when-we-were-crea_2637041.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/john-shelby-spong-1488_angel_there-never-was-a-time-when-we-were-crea_2637041.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/john-shelby-spong-1488_angel_there-never-was-a-time-when-we-were-crea_2637041.png) > “There never was a time when we were created perfect and fell into sin and needed to be rescued. We are evolving people; we are not fallen people. We are not a little lower than the angels. We're a little higher than the apes. It's a very different perspective.” [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. Human evolution contradicts the idea of original sin; we are higher than apes, not fallen. **In simple terms:** Humans evolve, not inherently sinful Key Takeaway Embrace progressive view of humanity Themes theology evolution human nature Mood reflective challenging Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious discourse - education - personal development Key Concepts spiritual growth self‑identity Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect moral responsibility? - What implications for faith communities? A Different Perspective May conflict with traditional doctrines ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Apes Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes-different-2237385/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-perspective/) [Evolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolve/) [Evolving People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolving-people-2237386/) [Fallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-apes-2237388/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Rescued Evolving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rescued-evolving-2237387/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ There is always that potential in the same way - Roddy McDowall ended up playing Cornelius to Caesar \[in the Planet of the Apes\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/there-is-always-that-potential-in-the-same-way-roddy-mcdowall-ended/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > ["Slightly lower than the angels" is a whole lot better than slightly higher than the apes. Let's get the order straight. God, angelic beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/slightly-lower-than-the-angels-is-a-whole-lot-better-than-slightly/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [It's as if we're higher apes who had a language faculty inserted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-as-if-we-re-higher-apes-who-had-a-language-faculty-inserted/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The tools are evolving, and people's interests are evolving as well. So, suddenly people like to hear bands, people like Devendra Banhart or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/the-tools-are-evolving-and-people-s-interests-are-evolving-as-well-so/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [ I \[read\] "The Book of Unknown Americans," which is by a friend of mine, Cristina Henriquez, and is about two Latino, immigrant families who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-lalami/i-read-the-book-of-unknown-americans-which-is-by-a-friend-of-mine/) [Laila Lalami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-lalami/) > [Basically, art should remain something that is complex, that has many layers, so there's always a possibility to reconsider things and have a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/basically-art-should-remain-something-that-is-complex-that-has-many/) [Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/) > [The reason to have more racial diversity on any team is because it's helpful to have different perspectives on any issue. And I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/the-reason-to-have-more-racial-diversity-on-any-team-is-because-it-s/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [When you have to cast movies from a producer's standpoint - when you've been on the other side of casting sessions - you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-minghella/when-you-have-to-cast-movies-from-a-producer-s-standpoint-when-you-ve/) [Max Minghella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-minghella/) > [“What's the weirdest thing you've pierced?" "Earlobes," he plainly stated. "Earlobes?" "Yeah," he said. "Once you've held a couple dozen penises in your hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-aiken/what-s-the-weirdest-thing-you-ve-pierced-earlobes-he-plainly-stated/) [Sean Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-aiken/) > [“Are there weapons in a bookstore?' 'It's a store full of books, which are objects that can be thrown as well as read,' Monty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/are-there-weapons-in-a-bookstore-it-s-a-store-full-of-books-which-are/) [Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/) > [In my grandfather's day, there was a different perspective on war and men that went into war; it was such a patriotic act to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-holmes/in-my-grandfather-s-day-there-was-a-different-perspective-on-war-and/) [Ashton Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-holmes/) > [“Jack was the kind of guy you could take into any situation and he would figure out how to fit in. Wayne, not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/jack-was-the-kind-of-guy-you-could-take-into-any-situation-and-he/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Creativity is closely associated with bipolar disorder. This condition is unique . Many famous historical figures and artists have had this. Yet they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-shenoy/creativity-is-closely-associated-with-bipolar-disorder-this-condition/) [Preeti Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preeti-shenoy/) > [I definitely have a different perspective on music in general. But once I actually have a guitar in my hands, I think I disappear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-definitely-have-a-different-perspective-on-music-in-general-but/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [Not to lose yourself on the path of life, you are given to look and explore life from different perspectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandrababu-vs/not-to-lose-yourself-on-the-path-of-life-you-are-given-to-look-and/) [Chandrababu VS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandrababu-vs/) ## 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 Angel quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Behind my eyelids, I saw him dancing in spirals of coloured light, emerald, blue, and brilliant purple, enfolding him like the wings of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/behind-my-eyelids-i-saw-him-dancing-in-spirals-of-coloured-light/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-glory-to-the-new-born-king-peace-on-earth/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 4,625 Angel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There never was a time when we were created perfect and fell into sin and needed to be rescued. We are evolving people; we are not fallen people. We are not a little lower than the angels. We're a little higher than the apes. 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