--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would you respect a God you could…" description: "\"Would you respect a God you could comprehend? And yet very often thatÂ’s what we want - a God who reflects our culture, our biases, our economic, polit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png" --- # Would you respect a God you could comprehend? And yet very… ![“Would you respect a God you could comprehend? And yet very often thatÂ’s what we want - a God who reflects our culture, our biases, our economic, political, and military systems.” quote by Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png) > “Would you respect a God you could comprehend? And yet very often thatÂ’s what we want - a God who reflects our culture, our biases, our economic, political, and military systems.” [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often desire a deity that mirrors their own cultural and political views, limiting true spiritual insight. **In simple terms:** We want gods that reflect our biases. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about divine representation. Themes theology culture power dynamics Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious education - political discourse - interfaith dialogue - personal meditation Key Concepts anthropomorphism bias spiritual authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What would a non‑biased divine look like? - How do cultural lenses shape spirituality? A Different Perspective A universal concept of God may feel abstract or alien to many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [God Comprehend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-comprehend-1185518/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Reflects Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflects-culture-1452682/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-god-692885/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-god/) ## Related quotes > [Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/cinema-reflects-culture-and-there-is-no-harm-in-adapting-technology/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [At times, yes, I have been typecast. But I love having a regional identity in my songs. I want to deliver music that reflects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-imman/at-times-yes-i-have-been-typecast-but-i-love-having-a-regional/) [D. Imman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-imman/) > [Art... reacts to or reflects the culture it springs from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/art-reacts-to-or-reflects-the-culture-it-springs-from/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [I'd like to see us Pakistani actors do more work that reflects our culture, morals and values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanam-saeed/i-d-like-to-see-us-pakistani-actors-do-more-work-that-reflects-our/) [Sanam Saeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanam-saeed/) > [If pop music reflects the culture, this will surely go down as the era in which people rose up and realized it was fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-pop-music-reflects-the-culture-this-will-surely-go-down-as-the-era/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/if-men-do-not-comprehend-the-character-of-god-they-do-not-comprehend/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [You may know God, but not comprehend Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/you-may-know-god-but-not-comprehend-him/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know how I shall make the Saints of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/it-is-my-meditation-all-the-day-and-more-than-my-meat-and-drink-to/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A God alone can comprehend a God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-god-alone-can-comprehend-a-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/there-is-not-in-the-world-a-kind-of-life-more-sweet-and-delightful-2/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [Tis hard to find God, but to comprehend Him, as He is, is labour without end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/tis-hard-to-find-god-but-to-comprehend-him-as-he-is-is-labour-without/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [If only everyone could know we’ve been created by and for God! If only we could all comprehend that we’re precious to Him, housing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/if-only-everyone-could-know-we-ve-been-created-by-and-for-god-if-only/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-solomon-son-of-david/when-i-applied-my-mind-to-know-wisdom-and-to-observe-the-labor-that/) [King Solomon Son of David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-solomon-son-of-david/) > [“Alas, in our age, some arrogantly believe that if they cannot comprehend something, then God cannot comprehend it, either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/alas-in-our-age-some-arrogantly-believe-that-if-they-cannot/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend His wisdom and majesty and power; to appreciate, in degree, the wonderful workings of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/to-know-the-mighty-works-of-god-to-comprehend-his-wisdom-and-majesty/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) ## More by Richard Rohr > [“We have become human doings more than human beings, and the verb “rest,” as Jesus uses it, is largely foreign to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-have-become-human-doings-more-than-human-beings-and-the-verb-rest/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-we-do-not-transform-our-pain-we-will-most-assuredly-transmit-it/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In solitude, at last, we’re able to let God define us the way we are always supposed to be defined—by relationship: the I-thou relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-solitude-at-last-we-re-able-to-let-god-define-us-the-way-we-are/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Pain and suffering that are not transformed are usually projected onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/pain-and-suffering-that-are-not-transformed-are-usually-projected/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“In the end, we do not so much reclaim what we have lost as discover a significantly new self in and through the process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-the-end-we-do-not-so-much-reclaim-what-we-have-lost-as-discover-a/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will transmit it to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/all-great-spirituality-is-about-what-we-do-with-our-pain-if-we-do-not/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I would wonder if you could be a hero or heroine if you did not live in deep time, that is, Past, present, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-would-wonder-if-you-could-be-a-hero-or-heroine-if-you-did-not-live/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/nature-is-the-one-song-of-praise-that-never-stops-singing/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I believe contemplation shows us that nothing inside us is as bad as our hatred and denial of the bad. Hating and denying it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-believe-contemplation-shows-us-that-nothing-inside-us-is-as-bad-as/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If you do not transform your wounds you will transmit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-you-do-not-transform-your-wounds-you-will-transmit-them/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The real spiritual journey is work. You can make a naïve assertion that you trust in Jesus, but until it is tested a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-real-spiritual-journey-is-work-you-can-make-a-na-ve-assertion/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) [Explore all 443 Richard Rohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## More Culture quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Would you respect a God you could comprehend? And yet very often thatÂ’s what we want - a God who reflects our culture, our biases, our economic, political, and military systems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Rohr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-comprehend-and-yet-very-often-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Culture" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-comprehend-and-yet-very-often-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a8/richard-rohr-618_culture_would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-compre_2802901.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Would you respect a God you could comprehend? And yet very often thatÂ’s what we want - a God who reflects…” — Richard Rohr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Rohr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Would you respect a God you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-comprehend-and-yet-very-often-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/would-you-respect-a-god-you-could-comprehend-and-yet-very-often-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```