--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best argument for Christianity is…" description: "\"The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/joseph-c-aldrich-83290_argument_the-best-argument-for-christianity-is-ch_2042141.jpg" --- # The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their… ![“The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians-when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and…” quote by Joseph C. Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/joseph-c-aldrich-83290_argument_the-best-argument-for-christianity-is-ch_2042141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/joseph-c-aldrich-83290_argument_the-best-argument-for-christianity-is-ch_2042141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/joseph-c-aldrich-83290_argument_the-best-argument-for-christianity-is-ch_2042141.jpg) > “The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians-when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.” [Joseph C. Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-aldrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian joy and certainty illustrate faith’s appeal, while hypocrisy and rigidity reveal its vulnerabilities. **In simple terms:** Faith shows joy and flaws. Key Takeaway Recognize both strengths and weaknesses in belief systems. Themes faith human behavior critique Mood reflective critical Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - community building - personal belief - public discourse Key Concepts theology psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What role does joy play in sustaining belief? - How can faith avoid becoming self‑righteous? A Different Perspective Joyful faith can be superficial without depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Argument Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument-christianity-771413/) [Best Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-argument-433783/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-dies-3554380/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Complacent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacent/) [Completeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completeness/) [Consecration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consecration/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteous/) [Somber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somber/) [Strongest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongest/) [Strongest Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongest-argument-502977/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) ## Related quotes > [Sheldon Vanauken wrote that the strongest argument for Christianity is Christians, when they are drawing life from God. 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Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-nicholls/) > [The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/the-strongest-argument-in-favor-of-the-gospel-is-a-loving-and-lovable/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [You are the strongest argument, yet, against cloning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-richardson/you-are-the-strongest-argument-yet-against-cloning/) [Patricia Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-richardson/) > [Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/never-argue-at-the-dinner-table-for-the-one-who-is-not-hungry-always/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a-five-minute-conversation/) [Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/) > [There is only one way to defeat the enemy, and that is to write as well as one can. 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Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-aldrich/) > [Impression minus expression leads to spiritual depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-aldrich/impression-minus-expression-leads-to-spiritual-depression/) [Joseph C. Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-aldrich/) [Explore all 3 Joseph C. Aldrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-aldrich/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. 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