God Infinite Quote by Thomas Merton
““He arrives at his own being as if it were an objective reality, that is to say he strives to become aware of himself as he would of some “thing” alien to himself. And he proves that the “thing” exists. He convinces himself: “I am therefore some thing.” And then he goes on to convince himself that God, the infinite, the transcendent, is also a “thing,” an “object,” like other finite and limited objects of our thought!””
About This Quote
The passage critiques the tendency to treat the self and even the divine as objects, arguing that such objectification reduces the mystery and transcendence of existence.
In simple terms: Seeing self and God as objects limits understanding.
Key Takeaway
Objectification narrows perception of reality.
Themes
philosophy
spirituality
self-awareness
ontology
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditative practice
- theological debate
- existential counseling
Key Concepts
phenomenology
theology
subject‑object dualism
Practical Applications
- encourage non‑objectifying contemplation
- use metaphor to explore transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does objectifying the divine affect faith?
- Can self‑awareness exist without categorizing the self?
A Different Perspective
May overlook practical benefits of conceptualizing abstract ideas.
![“For you [God] are infinite and never change. In you 'today' never comes to an end: and yet our 'today' does come to an end in you, because time, as well as everything else, exists in you. If it did not, it would have no means of passing. And since your years never come to an end, for you they are…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fc5/anonymous-1_doe_for-you-god-are-infinite-and-never-chang_194181.jpg)
![“For you [God] are infinite and never change. In you "today" never comes to an end: and yet our "today" does come to an end in you, because time, as well as everything else, exists in you. If it did not, it would have no means of passing. And since your years never come to an end, for you they are…” quote by Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2d2/saint-augustine-328_doe_for-you-god-are-infinite-and-never-chang_230596.jpg)
