--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very fact that doctrine is hewn from…" description: "\"The very fact that doctrine is hewn from bitter controversy and tested through time is sufficient reason to make them a focus of theology.\" — Stanley H..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/stanley-hauerwas-2675_bitter_the-very-fact-that-doctrine-is-hewn-from_2020955.png" --- # The very fact that doctrine is hewn from bitter… ![“The very fact that doctrine is hewn from bitter controversy and tested through time is sufficient reason to make them a focus of theology.” quote by Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/stanley-hauerwas-2675_bitter_the-very-fact-that-doctrine-is-hewn-from_2020955.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/stanley-hauerwas-2675_bitter_the-very-fact-that-doctrine-is-hewn-from_2020955.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/stanley-hauerwas-2675_bitter_the-very-fact-that-doctrine-is-hewn-from_2020955.png) > “The very fact that doctrine is hewn from bitter controversy and tested through time is sufficient reason to make them a focus of theology.” [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doctrine shaped by controversy proves its durability, urging theological focus on such debates. **In simple terms:** Controversial doctrines are worth studying. Key Takeaway Examine and discuss contentious doctrines. Themes theology doctrine controversy critical thinking Mood thoughtful analytical Type academic reflective When to use this quote - seminary coursework - church debates - academic research - public policy discussions Key Concepts philosophy historical analysis ecclesiology Questions to Reflect On - How does controversy strengthen doctrine? - When should theology prioritize harmony over debate? A Different Perspective Controversy may polarize rather than unify believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Gossip is never fatal until it is denied. Gossip goes on about every human being alive and about all the dead that are alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/gossip-is-never-fatal-until-it-is-denied-gossip-goes-on-about-every/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [There's a lot of controversy online, some people say i'm a genius and other say i'm hugely talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/there-s-a-lot-of-controversy-online-some-people-say-i-m-a-genius-and/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [Please don't think that I got married on TV for publicity. I already enjoyed a huge fan following, courtesy my character in Bidaai.' Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/please-don-t-think-that-i-got-married-on-tv-for-publicity-i-already/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [Controversy sells, politics sell, all that type of stuff sells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/controversy-sells-politics-sell-all-that-type-of-stuff-sells/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [My stress on the truth in sexual stereotypes and on the biologic basis of sex differences is sure to cause controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/my-stress-on-the-truth-in-sexual-stereotypes-and-on-the-biologic/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/) [Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/) > [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. 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His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [I think controversy is an interesting thing in that it usually goes hand in hand with starting conversations that surround taboo or under-discussed topics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-think-controversy-is-an-interesting-thing-in-that-it-usually-goes/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) ## More by Stanley Hauerwas > [Advent is patience it's how God has made us a people of promise, in a world of impatience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/advent-is-patience-it-s-how-god-has-made-us-a-people-of-promise-in-a/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [It turns out that the God whose word will stand forever does not exist to insure our fantasies that we will not have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/it-turns-out-that-the-god-whose-word-will-stand-forever-does-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I have come to think that the challenge confronting Christians is not that we do not believe what we say, though that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-have-come-to-think-that-the-challenge-confronting-christians-is-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Though the world may often appear to be more charitable than the church, it is crucial to remember that, for the church, the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/though-the-world-may-often-appear-to-be-more-charitable-than-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [When love becomes what Christianity is all about, we can make no sense of Jesus's death and resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/when-love-becomes-what-christianity-is-all-about-we-can-make-no-sense/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [To try to turn Iraq into a liberal democracy is absolutely crazy. 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I do not think Lewis could have written well or truthfully if he had tried to avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-chronicles-of-narnia-are-war-determined-stories-i-do-not-think/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I should like to think how we write as theologians would reflect our confidence in the One who makes that writing possible. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-should-like-to-think-how-we-write-as-theologians-would-reflect-our/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Many who become theologians in our time think their task is to try to determine how much of what has passed for Christianity they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/many-who-become-theologians-in-our-time-think-their-task-is-to-try-to/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) [Explore all 155 Stanley Hauerwas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) ## More Bitter quotes > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. 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But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [One may have been a fool, but there's no foolishness like being bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/one-may-have-been-a-fool-but-there-s-no-foolishness-like-being-bitter/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. 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