--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In most popular Christianity, “heaven”…" description: "\"“In most popular Christianity, “heaven” (and “fellowship with God” in the present) is the goal, and “sin” (bad behavior, deserving punishment) is the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/n-t-wright-1173_bad-behavior_in-most-popular-christianity-heaven-and_3016253.png" --- # In most popular Christianity, “heaven” (and “fellowship… ![“In most popular Christianity, “heaven” (and “fellowship with God” in the present) is the goal, and “sin” (bad behavior, deserving punishment) is the problem. A Platonized goal and a moralizing diagnosis—and together they lead, as I have been suggesting, to a paganized “solution” in which an angry…” quote by N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/n-t-wright-1173_bad-behavior_in-most-popular-christianity-heaven-and_3016253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/n-t-wright-1173_bad-behavior_in-most-popular-christianity-heaven-and_3016253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/n-t-wright-1173_bad-behavior_in-most-popular-christianity-heaven-and_3016253.png) > ““In most popular Christianity, “heaven” (and “fellowship with God” in the present) is the goal, and “sin” (bad behavior, deserving punishment) is the problem. A Platonized goal and a moralizing diagnosis—and together they lead, as I have been suggesting, to a paganized “solution” in which an angry divinity is pacified by human sacrifice.”” [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques mainstream Christianity for turning heaven into a distant goal and sin into a moral problem, leading to a punitive deity appeased by sacrifice. **In simple terms:** He sees a flawed view of God and salvation. Key Takeaway Reevaluate spiritual beliefs beyond fear and sacrifice. Themes theology critique spirituality Mood reflective critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church teaching - personal faith - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Christianity Platonism paganism Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect your personal faith? - Can spirituality exist without fear? A Different Perspective It may overlook positive aspects of religious community. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-behavior/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ## Related quotes > [“Most televangelists, popular Christian preacher icons, and heads of those corporations that we call megachurches share an unreflective modern view of Jesus--that he translates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/most-televangelists-popular-christian-preacher-icons-and-heads-of/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“(1.) --No one can deny that the New Testament contains a special revelation of the parental tie uniting us to God. 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As a Quaker, he believed that "the moral evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/lewis-richardson-wrote-that-his-quest-to-analyze-peace-with-numbers/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [The greatest influence for good comes from those quiet folks who make morals, not moralizing, their vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-reed/the-greatest-influence-for-good-comes-from-those-quiet-folks-who-make/) [Lawrence Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-reed/) > [Some find Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran’s poetry preachy and moralizing, but I find it plenty enlightening—it’s hard to object to the melodic, cosmic of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil/some-find-lebanese-poet-kahlil-gibran-s-poetry-preachy-and-moralizing/) [Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) ## More by N.T. Wright > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“The very mention of crucifixion was taboo in polite Roman circles, since it was the lowest form of capital punishment, reserved for slaves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-very-mention-of-crucifixion-was-taboo-in-polite-roman-circles/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Sunday, kept as a commemoration of Easter ever since that event itself (a quite remarkable phenomenon when you come to think about it), is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/sunday-kept-as-a-commemoration-of-easter-ever-since-that-event-itself/) [N.T. 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Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“To recognize that the Psalms call us to pray and sing at the intersections of the times--of our time and God's time, of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/to-recognize-that-the-psalms-call-us-to-pray-and-sing-at-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Successful resistance to temptation may result in an increase of moral muscle, but that is because one is going to need it. A temptation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/successful-resistance-to-temptation-may-result-in-an-increase-of/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/blessings-on-the-poor-in-spirit-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-yours-matt-5/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“As C. S. 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Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) ## More Bad behavior quotes > [“It is chilling to know that some accepted ways of being with children can leave them vulnerable to suffering from anxiety, depression, or rage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-taylor/it-is-chilling-to-know-that-some-accepted-ways-of-being-with-children/) [Natalie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-taylor/) > [More often than not, the belief that you are bad contributes to the "bad" behavior. Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/) [David D. 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