--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before you disagree make sure you…" description: "\"Before you disagree make sure you understand. In other words, we must make sure that we can describe another's theological position as he would describ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/roger-e-olson-17551_belief_before-you-disagree-make-sure-you-unders_1622307.jpg" --- # Before you disagree make sure you understand. In other… ![“Before you disagree make sure you understand. In other words, we must make sure that we can describe another's theological position as he would describe it before we criticize or condemn. Another guiding principle should be 'Do not impute to others beliefs you regard as logically entailed by their…” quote by Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/roger-e-olson-17551_belief_before-you-disagree-make-sure-you-unders_1622307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/roger-e-olson-17551_belief_before-you-disagree-make-sure-you-unders_1622307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/roger-e-olson-17551_belief_before-you-disagree-make-sure-you-unders_1622307.jpg) > “Before you disagree make sure you understand. In other words, we must make sure that we can describe another's theological position as he would describe it before we criticize or condemn. Another guiding principle should be 'Do not impute to others beliefs you regard as logically entailed by their beliefs but that they explicitly deny'.” [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding opposing views before criticism ensures fair dialogue and avoids misrepresentation. **In simple terms:** Know before you judge. Key Takeaway Seek true comprehension first. Themes dialogue empathy intellectual honesty Mood thoughtful respectful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - debates - interfaith discussions - academic seminars - online forums Key Concepts theology interpretation argumentation Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify you have captured another's view accurately? - What assumptions do you bring to a disagreement? A Different Perspective Misunderstanding can still occur despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [ “. . . be suspicious of any \[theological\] position that fulfills all our heart's desires.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-hordern/be-suspicious-of-any-theological-position-that-fulfills-all-our-heart/) William E. Hordern > [The assumption that things which have been conjured in the past will always be conjured in the guiding principle not of rational but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-assumption-that-things-which-have-been-conjured-in-the-past-will/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“We all die and disappear, but that’s because the mechanism of the world itself is built on destruction and loss. Our lives are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-all-die-and-disappear-but-that-s-because-the-mechanism-of-the-2/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [What will be required to increase the quality of life and health is a coming together of technology and values, based on a scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-childre/what-will-be-required-to-increase-the-quality-of-life-and-health-is-a/) [Doc Childre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-childre/) > [“Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on winning one customer at a time. Be honest and sincere. Do what’s right. There’s nothing magical about this.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-focus-on-winning-one-customer-at-a-time-be/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [The guiding principle is not to manufacture the goods everyone needs, rather to earn profits for a few capitalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-ulbricht/the-guiding-principle-is-not-to-manufacture-the-goods-everyone-needs/) [Walter Ulbricht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-ulbricht/) > [The only guiding principle you can use is to make something that you want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tull/the-only-guiding-principle-you-can-use-is-to-make-something-that-you/) [Thomas Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tull/) > [Move forward and let others do the same. Simple. This is a guiding principle everyone should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/move-forward-and-let-others-do-the-same-simple-this-is-a-guiding/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The leaders of good-to-great companies did not first focus on creating a vision or over-arching goal. Instead, they made sure to first get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eighty-twenty-publishing/the-leaders-of-good-to-great-companies-did-not-first-focus-on/) [Eighty Twenty Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eighty-twenty-publishing/) > [There is no guiding principle, because the work that is created in collaborations should be created from its own principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eyvind-kang/there-is-no-guiding-principle-because-the-work-that-is-created-in/) [Eyvind Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eyvind-kang/) > [The guiding principle that a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy remains as true today as it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/the-guiding-principle-that-a-policy-of-freedom-for-the-individual-is/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/my-guiding-principle-will-be-justice-and-complete-impartiality-and-i/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [The guiding principle of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be IN GOD WE TRUST.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-guiding-principle-of-this-nation-has-been-is-now-and-ever-shall/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We need to protect free trade as a guiding principle for Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/we-need-to-protect-free-trade-as-a-guiding-principle-for-japan/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) ## More by Roger E. Olson > [Human beings are special, of higher dignity and worth than other animals, because they're created in God's own image and likeness. It's actually true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/human-beings-are-special-of-higher-dignity-and-worth-than-other/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“People who say that Calvinists teach predestination and deny free will, and that Arminians deny predestination and teach free will are simply wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/people-who-say-that-calvinists-teach-predestination-and-deny-free/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [We, including many Christians, read the Bible through "eyes" conditioned by, and even accommodated to, modern Western culture plus the influences of messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/we-including-many-christians-read-the-bible-through-eyes-conditioned/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Before saying 'I disagree' be sure you can say 'I understand.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/before-saying-i-disagree-be-sure-you-can-say-i-understand/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Only a loving and covenant-making personal God can provide humans with unique dignity, worth, and rights. Blind nature cannot do that. So, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/only-a-loving-and-covenant-making-personal-god-can-provide-humans/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“If God’s love is absolutely different from the highest and best notions of love as we derive them from Scripture itself (especially from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/if-god-s-love-is-absolutely-different-from-the-highest-and-best/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [We're creatures, so we have limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/we-re-creatures-so-we-have-limits/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > ["Ultimate reality" is the highest, deepest, eternal, unchangeable, source and ground of everything we see, touch, and experience with our five senses. It's that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/ultimate-reality-is-the-highest-deepest-eternal-unchangeable-source/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Humanism cannot survive on a purely secular platform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/humanism-cannot-survive-on-a-purely-secular-platform/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“Surely we can only come to understand each other's beliefs by means of direct encounter and open, honest discussion. In the meantime, many free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/surely-we-can-only-come-to-understand-each-other-s-beliefs-by-means/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [The Bible portrays God as entering into covenants with people which, when broken, causes him grief and sorrow. The biblical prophet Hosea and God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/the-bible-portrays-god-as-entering-into-covenants-with-people-which/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“Someone has said that no theology is worth believing that cannot be preached standing in front of the gates of Auschwitz. I, for one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/someone-has-said-that-no-theology-is-worth-believing-that-cannot-be/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [There's nothing easy or simple or even entertaining (in our contemporary American sense of that word) in disciplining our minds to "see" reality through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/there-s-nothing-easy-or-simple-or-even-entertaining-in-our/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Today, under the influences of Eastern religions and philosophies imported into the West, many Christians confuse God's Spirit with our spirit and think our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/today-under-the-influences-of-eastern-religions-and-philosophies/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Today we cannot assume people, even all Christians, understand the Bible's implicit, underlying view of reality. We have to dig it out and show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/today-we-cannot-assume-people-even-all-christians-understand-the/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) [Explore all 37 Roger E. Olson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. 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