--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In American religion, as in ancient…" description: "\"“In American religion, as in ancient Gnosticism, there is almost no sense of God’s difference from us—in other words, his majesty, sovereignty, self-ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/michael-s-horton-7082_god_in-american-religion-as-in-ancient-gnost_1015800.jpg" --- # In American religion, as in ancient Gnosticism, there is… ![“In American religion, as in ancient Gnosticism, there is almost no sense of God’s difference from us—in other words, his majesty, sovereignty, self-existence, and holiness. God is my buddy, my inmost experience, or the power source for my living my best life now.” quote by Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/michael-s-horton-7082_god_in-american-religion-as-in-ancient-gnost_1015800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/michael-s-horton-7082_god_in-american-religion-as-in-ancient-gnost_1015800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/michael-s-horton-7082_god_in-american-religion-as-in-ancient-gnost_1015800.jpg) > ““In American religion, as in ancient Gnosticism, there is almost no sense of God’s difference from us—in other words, his majesty, sovereignty, self-existence, and holiness. God is my buddy, my inmost experience, or the power source for my living my best life now.”” [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It compares modern American religious views to Gnosticism, emphasizing a personal, intimate relationship with God rather than a distant deity. **In simple terms:** God as personal companion. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal connection with the divine. Themes faith personal relationship theology Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - community worship - daily mindfulness Key Concepts Gnosticism American religion spiritual intimacy Questions to Reflect On - Does seeing God as a buddy change your spiritual practice? - How does this view affect moral decisions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gnosticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gnosticism/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Plants, animals, men, angels, then God. Difference between men and angels is that men are stuck in a body. 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But so long as it does, citizens should probably be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lilla/no-one-can-know-how-long-this-dumbing-down-of-american-religion-will/) [Mark Lilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lilla/) > [As a historian of American and African-American religion, I know that the Trayvon Martin moment is just one moment in a history of racism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/as-a-historian-of-american-and-african-american-religion-i-know-that/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [I think what you see a lot of in American religion, even in areas of American Christianity that don't go all the way with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/i-think-what-you-see-a-lot-of-in-american-religion-even-in-areas-of/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [Independent of the critique I'm making, I'm just trying to paint a more comprehensive portrait of American religion than you get from a right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/independent-of-the-critique-i-m-making-i-m-just-trying-to-paint-a/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) ## More by Michael S. 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Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“This may be the most valuable and the most challenging thing we can learn from Calvin’s ecclesiology today: that the church is not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/this-may-be-the-most-valuable-and-the-most-challenging-thing-we-can/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“The same word that is faith-producing and life-generating for some is for others an occasion to become more resolute in unbelief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/the-same-word-that-is-faith-producing-and-life-generating-for-some-is/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“We can be grateful that Jesus embraced the cross and then entered his glory instead of demanding glory first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/we-can-be-grateful-that-jesus-embraced-the-cross-and-then-entered-his/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“I’m not saying that there is something wrong with moving to the city to pursue an adrenaline-racing calling. And I understand the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/i-m-not-saying-that-there-is-something-wrong-with-moving-to-the-city/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first and cheaters never prosper. However, believers have no right to God’s common grace any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/our-natural-reason-tells-us-that-good-people-finish-first-and/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) [Explore all 95 Michael S. Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## More Gnosticism quotes > [“The idea that we are to be absorbed into the Deity is Gnostic in its origins and is quite antithetical to Christianity." ~R. 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