Left hand Quote by Lee Strobel
““Abruptly, Templeton cut short his thoughts. There was a brief pause, almost as if he was uncertain whether he should continue. 'Uh ... but ... no,' he said slowly, 'he's the most ...' He stopped, then started again. 'In my view,' he declared, 'he is the most important human being who ever existed.' That's when Templeton uttered the words I neer expected to hear from him. ' And if I may put it this way,' he said in a voice that began to crack, 'I ... miss ... him!' With that tears flooded his eyes. He turned his head and looked downward, raising his left hand to shield his face from me. His shoulders bobbed as he wept." -Former Minister and now Agnostic Charles Templeton speaking of Jesus””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Charles Templeton on Jesus, 1995
Templeton, once a Christian minister, expresses deep admiration for Jesus, revealing personal grief and reverence despite his later agnosticism.
In simple terms: He respects Jesus as the most important human, feeling sorrow at his loss.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge profound influence even when beliefs change.
Themes
faith
grief
reverence
belief
loss
Mood
reflective
somber
respectful
Type
testimonial
emotional
philosophical
When to use this quote
- religious reflection
- personal loss
- public speaking
Key Concepts
theology
personal transformation
emotional honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile respect for a figure with changed beliefs?
- What does this say about personal influence?
A Different Perspective
His admiration may be seen as contradictory to his agnostic stance.
![“Thomas Goodwin Jr. wrote of his godly father: In all the violence of [his fever], he discoursed with that strength of faith and assurance of Christ’s love, with that holy admiration of free grace, with that joy in believing, and such thanksgivings and praises, as he extremely moved and affected…” quote by Thomas Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0a3/thomas-goodwin-15928_communion-with-god_thomas-goodwin-jr-wrote-of-his-godly-fat_122316.jpg)
