--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What sort of power is it that really and…" description: "\"What sort of power is it that really and truly renders the deity present? Human beings automatically think of God as someone who possesses and wields p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/jon-sobrino-59421_conviction_what-sort-of-power-is-it-that-really-and_2938626.png" --- # What sort of power is it that really and truly renders the… ![“What sort of power is it that really and truly renders the deity present? Human beings automatically think of God as someone who possesses and wields power. Jesus forces people to consider whether that deeply rooted conviction is true or not. In historical terms it is readily apparent that power…” quote by Jon Sobrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/jon-sobrino-59421_conviction_what-sort-of-power-is-it-that-really-and_2938626.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/jon-sobrino-59421_conviction_what-sort-of-power-is-it-that-really-and_2938626.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/jon-sobrino-59421_conviction_what-sort-of-power-is-it-that-really-and_2938626.png) > “What sort of power is it that really and truly renders the deity present? Human beings automatically think of God as someone who possesses and wields power. Jesus forces people to consider whether that deeply rooted conviction is true or not. In historical terms it is readily apparent that power, left to its own inertial tendencies, tends to be oppressive in fact. So it cannot be the ultimate meditation of God, though human beings might tend to think so” [Jon Sobrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-sobrino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power is often linked to divinity, but true divine presence may not be about dominance; power can become oppressive if unchecked. **In simple terms:** Divine power isn’t just dominance; it can be oppressive. Key Takeaway Seek humility over dominance. Themes theology power divinity oppression humility Mood thoughtful inquisitive philosophical Type theological philosophical reflective When to use this quote - religious discourse - leadership - social movements - personal faith Key Concepts authority inertial tendency spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What defines true spiritual power? - How can power be exercised responsibly? A Different Perspective Power can be misinterpreted as divine authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Deities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deities/) [Deity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deity/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We should worship as though the deity were present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/we-should-worship-as-though-the-deity-were-present/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Thus the Old Testament prophets, Jesus himself, and his apostles all attribute the divine power in his (Jesus) ministry not to the uniqueness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-deere/thus-the-old-testament-prophets-jesus-himself-and-his-apostles-all/) Jack Deere > [In the most intimate, hidden and innermost ground of the soul, God is always essentially, actively, and substantially present. Here the soul possesses everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/in-the-most-intimate-hidden-and-innermost-ground-of-the-soul-god-is/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [“Whoever possesses the present moment possesses God Whoever possesses the present moment possesses everything The present moment is enough don't let anything trouble you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-theresa-of-avila/whoever-possesses-the-present-moment-possesses-god-whoever-possesses/) St. Theresa of Avila > [“..: When the darkest hours and days come, one should always remember that they only come to grant us wisdom, knowledge and new opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/when-the-darkest-hours-and-days-come-one-should-always-remember-that/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [“You might possess the power to control your heart but God possesses the power to control your heartbeat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/you-might-possess-the-power-to-control-your-heart-but-god-possesses/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [Based on our natural heritage as the Divine Light of God, every one of us possesses intuition... defined as the language of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/based-on-our-natural-heritage-as-the-divine-light-of-god-every-one-of/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [God never changes; Patient endurance Attains to all things; Who God possesses In nothing is wanting; Alone God suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-never-changes-patient-endurance-attains-to-all-things-who-god/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Becoming is the mode of activity of the uncreate deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/becoming-is-the-mode-of-activity-of-the-uncreate-deity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As high as mind stands above nature, so high does the state stand above physical life. Man must therefore venerate the state as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/as-high-as-mind-stands-above-nature-so-high-does-the-state-stand/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [If there's a god, it knows exactly what it would take to convince me and has refused to provide it. In fact, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/if-there-s-a-god-it-knows-exactly-what-it-would-take-to-convince-me/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [A supreme deity would no more gift us with intellect and expect us to forsake it in moments of bafflement, than He would fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/a-supreme-deity-would-no-more-gift-us-with-intellect-and-expect-us-to/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [Death is the inseparable antecedent of life; the seed dies in order to produce the plant, and earth itself is rent asunder and dies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/death-is-the-inseparable-antecedent-of-life-the-seed-dies-in-order-to/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [When you enter a grove peopled with ancient trees, higher than the ordinary, and shutting out the sky with their thickly inter-twined branches, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-enter-a-grove-peopled-with-ancient-trees-higher-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) ## More by Jon Sobrino > [“Afrička Velika jezera jesu Auschwitz današnjega vremena, no i na njima su se također pojavljivali primjeri nevjerojatne čovječnosti.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-sobrino/afri-ka-velika-jezera-jesu-auschwitz-dana-njega-vremena-no-i-na-njima/) [Jon Sobrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-sobrino/) > [Hope is the seed of liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-sobrino/hope-is-the-seed-of-liberation/) [Jon Sobrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-sobrino/) > [The Resurrection of Jesus is...a symbol of hope...I don't see how you can show love...without being in solidarity with the victims of this world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-sobrino/the-resurrection-of-jesus-is-a-symbol-of-hope-i-don-t-see-how-you-can/) [Jon Sobrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-sobrino/) > [To understand the truth is to do the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-sobrino/to-understand-the-truth-is-to-do-the-truth/) [Jon Sobrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-sobrino/) [Explore all 5 Jon Sobrino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-sobrino/) ## More Conviction quotes > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [“Desert are you, deluge are you, in a crowd of fakes, only truth is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/desert-are-you-deluge-are-you-in-a-crowd-of-fakes-only-truth-is-you/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [ Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the \[American\] nation was going to go on growing-in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/beneath-everything-else-north-and-west-there-ran-a-profound-unvoiced/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [When you fight to give your family bread, that's not passion anymore: that's conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/when-you-fight-to-give-your-family-bread-that-s-not-passion-anymore/) [Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/) > [If you know the differences between an oak and a poplar, a spruce and a pine, down to the needles... you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-allen-lawson/if-you-know-the-differences-between-an-oak-and-a-poplar-a-spruce-and/) [T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/) > [We need the conviction to be able to think for ourselves and to take action outof our own sense of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/we-need-the-conviction-to-be-able-to-think-for-ourselves-and-to-take/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [The law of England has established trial by judge and jury in the conviction that it is the mode best calculated to ascertain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-law-of-england-has-established-trial-by-judge-and-jury-in-the/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [If you are going to flip something, you must have the courage of your convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/if-you-are-going-to-flip-something-you-must-have-the-courage-of-your/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [We embark unhesitatingly on the path, in a direction that is absolutely right and urgent, supported by everyone, in the knowledge that this path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/we-embark-unhesitatingly-on-the-path-in-a-direction-that-is/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) [Browse all 2,157 Conviction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What sort of power is it that really and truly renders the deity present? 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