Avenues Quote by Marilynne Robinson
“The idea that the universe itself is physically structured around hierarchy was sort of an integration of earlier science and theology that was made by people like Thomas Aquinas, that was assumed doctrinally in that tradition. The Reformation rejected that model of reality and created a highly individualistic metaphysics in the sense that it located everything normative that can be said about reality in human perception, there being, of course, no other avenue of knowing. There is Scripture, there is conscience, there is perception itself.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Givenness of Things by Marilynne Robinson, 2015
Explains how the Reformation shifted from a hierarchical, objective reality to a subjective, perception‑based worldview.
In simple terms: Worldview moved from hierarchy to perception.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how belief systems shape reality perception.
Themes
philosophy
theology
history
subjectivity
knowledge
Mood
reflective
scholarly
Type
theoretical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reflection
- interfaith dialogue
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
metaphysics
epistemology
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this shift affect modern discourse?
- Can objective truth coexist with perception?
A Different Perspective
Subjective views can lack shared standards.
