Christianity Quote by Ludwig Feuerbach
““The God of the Christians is indeed the God of the heathens, but with a wide difference … The Christians know God personally, face to face. The heathens know only … 'what,' and not 'who,' God is; … Christians … are distinguished from the heathens; … they are Christians in virtue of their special knowledge of God; … their mark of distinction is God. … [T]his God is unknown to the heathens, and to unbelievers in general; he does not exist for them. He is, indeed, said to exist for the heathens; but mediately, on condition that they cease to be heathens and become Christians. … Faith is imprisoned within itself. It is true that the philosophical, or … any scientific theorist, also limits himself by a definite system. But theoretic limitation, however fettered, short-sighted and narrow-hearted it may be, has still a freer character than faith, because the domain of theory is itself a free one … [F]aith refers … to … a special, personal Being, urging himself on recognition, and making salvation dependent on that recognition.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Essence of Christianity, 1841
Feuerbach contrasts Christian personal knowledge of God with heathen abstract understanding, arguing faith is limited compared to theoretical freedom.
In simple terms: Christians claim personal God, while others see God abstractly.
Key Takeaway
Consider the limits of faith versus reason.
Themes
theology
philosophy
knowledge
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- religious discourse
- academic debate
- personal spirituality
Key Concepts
faith vs reason
personal belief
existential inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines personal knowledge of the divine?
- Can faith be as free as theory?
A Different Perspective
Faith may be more flexible than presented.
![“refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and I lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one). —2 CORINTHIANS 10:5” quote by Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f85/joyce-meyer-123_knowledge-of-god_refute-arguments-and-theories-and-reason_129576.jpg)
![“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even his political vindictiveness; so the Christian made the requirements of human feeling the absolute powers and laws of the world. [T]hat is, indeed, only of man considered…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd1/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_abrahamism_as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national_31284.jpg)
![“Religion annexes to its doctrines a curse and a blessing … Blessed is he that believeth, cursed is he that believeth not. Thus it appeals not to reason, but to feeling, … to the passions of hope and fear. … [T]he fear of hell urges me to believe. Even supposing my belief to be in its origin free…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70b/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_belief_religion-annexes-to-its-doctrines-a-curs_35960.jpg)
![“[T]o think God is therefore to affirm what God is, to establish the being of God as an act. That God is thought, cognised, is essential; that this tree is thought, is to the tree accidental, unessential. … [H]ow is it possible that God – if he is to exist for us, to be an object to us – must…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ef5/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_infinite_t-o-think-god-is-therefore-to-affirm-wha_219124.jpg)
![“The essence of faith … is the idea that that which man wishes actually is: he wishes to be immortal, therefore he is immortal; he wishes for the existence of a being who can do everything which is impossible to Nature and reason, therefore such a being exists[.]” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bb8/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_the-essence-of-faith-is-the-idea-that-th_247786.jpg)
![“[H]eavenly personality, or the perpetuation of human personality in heaven is nothing else than personality released from all earthly encumbrances and limitations[.] [H]ere we are men, there gods[.]” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3a6/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_clinging-to-self_h-eavenly-personality-or-the-perpetuatio_340334.jpg)
![“[A]lthough the deeds opposed to love which mark Christian religious history, are in accordance with Christianity, and its antagonists are therefore right in imputing to it the horrible actions resulting from dogmatic creeds; those deeds nevertheless at the same time contradict Christianity…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ab/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_accepting-love_a-lthough-the-deeds-opposed-to-love-whic_414411.jpg)
![“[T]he religious expression is: Man is the image of God, or a being akin to God; - for according to religion man does not spring from Nature, but is of divine race, of divine origin. … According to this, God is the father of man, man the son, the child of God. Here is posited at once the…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/25a/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_father_t-he-religious-expression-is-man-is-the_470774.jpg)
