--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whereas easy appeals to mystery…" description: "\"“Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely shut off reflection about God, rigorous and earnest effort to understand him is richly rewarded with deepe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg" --- # Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely shut off… ![“Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely shut off reflection about God, rigorous and earnest effort to understand him is richly rewarded with deeper appreciation of who he is, more confidence in his reality and care, and a more intelligent and profound worship of his person.” quote by William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg) > ““Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely shut off reflection about God, rigorous and earnest effort to understand him is richly rewarded with deeper appreciation of who he is, more confidence in his reality and care, and a more intelligent and profound worship of his person.”” [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rigorous study of God deepens understanding, confidence, care, and worship. **In simple terms:** Studying God seriously deepens faith and worship. Key Takeaway Study deeply to enrich belief. Themes faith theology spiritual growth Mood thoughtful inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal study - sermons - academic courses - spiritual retreats Key Concepts epistemology religious experience worship Questions to Reflect On - How does rigorous study change your view of God? - What barriers hinder deep theological reflection? A Different Perspective May become inaccessible to those lacking intellectual resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deeper Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeper-appreciation-740386/) [God Rigorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-rigorous-2466936/) [Reflection God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection-god-623191/) [Rewarded Deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarded-deeper-2484590/) [Rigorous Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigorous-earnest-2484589/) ## Related quotes > [I have found that the more I reflect philosophically on the attributes of God the more overwhelmed I become at his greatness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/i-have-found-that-the-more-i-reflect-philosophically-on-the/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“Banish professionalism from our midst, Oh God, an din its place put passionate prayer, poverty of spirit, hunger for God, rigorous study of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/banish-professionalism-from-our-midst-oh-god-an-din-its-place-put/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [No one who strives with full faith and heart for the blessings of eternal life will be denied. And how great will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/no-one-who-strives-with-full-faith-and-heart-for-the-blessings-of/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [“You and I cannot really expect to glide through life . . . naively petitioning, 'Lord, give me experience but not grief, a deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-maxwell/you-and-i-cannot-really-expect-to-glide-through-life-naively/) [Neal maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-maxwell/) > [Since September 11, 2001, many in this nation and this Congress have a deeper appreciation for the importance of the sacrifices made by our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-costello/since-september-11-2001-many-in-this-nation-and-this-congress-have-a/) [Jerry Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-costello/) > [“With each passing minute, I’m developing a deeper appreciation of the word mortified,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/with-each-passing-minute-i-m-developing-a-deeper-appreciation-of-the/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“every innovation is a remix of the perennial, prompting a deeper appreciation for the underlying constancy beneath the surface of change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr/every-innovation-is-a-remix-of-the-perennial-prompting-a-deeper/) [Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr/) > [Life becomes religious whenever we make it so: when some new light is seen, when some deeper appreciation is felt, when some larger outlook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-lyon-fahs/life-becomes-religious-whenever-we-make-it-so-when-some-new-light-is/) [Sophia Lyon Fahs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-lyon-fahs/) > [“YOU ARE JUST You are not just for the right or left, but for what is right over the wrong. You are not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-are-just-you-are-not-just-for-the-right-or-left-but-for-what-is/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Be the reflection of God you want to see in the world...It all starts with YOU!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-r-jeffers/be-the-reflection-of-god-you-want-to-see-in-the-world-it-all-starts/) [Pamela R. Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-r-jeffers/) > [God wants you to know..that you are beautiful,even when you feel ugly,depressed or guilty,there is an inner spark in your beauty,. This light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-wants-you-to-know-that-you-are-beautiful-even-when-you-feel-ugly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ What \[others\] most need is to see in you a reflection of what God is like and of the transforming power of the Gospel.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/what-others-most-need-is-to-see-in-you-a-reflection-of-what-god-is/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [“How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taken-from-the-forty-rules-of-love-by-elif-shafak/how-we-see-god-is-a-direct-reflection-of-how-we-see-ourselves-if-god/) [Taken from The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taken-from-the-forty-rules-of-love-by-elif-shafak/) > [To me there is no difference between one person and another; I behold all as soul-reflection s of the one God. I can't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/to-me-there-is-no-difference-between-one-person-and-another-i-behold/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Man is the individualised expression or reflection of God imaged forth and made manifest in bodily form. How is it, then, I hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-trine/man-is-the-individualised-expression-or-reflection-of-god-imaged/) [Ralph Waldo Trine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-trine/) ## More by William Lane Craig > [Part of the broader task of Christian scholarship is to help create and sustain a cultural milieu in which the gospel can be heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/part-of-the-broader-task-of-christian-scholarship-is-to-help-create/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [The point is this: If God does not exist, then life is objectively meaningless; but man cannot live consistently and happily knowing that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/the-point-is-this-if-god-does-not-exist-then-life-is-objectively/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“By setting such strong, harsh dichotomies God taught Israel that any assimilation to pagan idolatry is intolerable. It was His way of preserving Israel’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/by-setting-such-strong-harsh-dichotomies-god-taught-israel-that-any/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [If you're sincerely seeking God, God will make His existence evident to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-you-re-sincerely-seeking-god-god-will-make-his-existence-evident/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [Scepticism, ironically, draws its life's blood from claims to have a good deal of knowledge. For example, your friends claim to know, 'Since every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/scepticism-ironically-draws-its-life-s-blood-from-claims-to-have-a/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“...if there's a supernatural agent that is working in the natural world, then the idealized conditions described by the law are no longer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-there-s-a-supernatural-agent-that-is-working-in-the-natural-world/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [If true love came at a price, the price would be all worth while if i was spending it on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-true-love-came-at-a-price-the-price-would-be-all-worth-while-if-i/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“There are various virtues of what counts as a best explanation, and I imagine familiarity is one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/there-are-various-virtues-of-what-counts-as-a-best-explanation-and-i/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [People think of time as a continuum composed of points which is stretched out at a line, and even if you add a direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/people-think-of-time-as-a-continuum-composed-of-points-which-is/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“...if God does not exist and there is no immortality, then all the evil acts of men go unpunished and all the sacrifices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-god-does-not-exist-and-there-is-no-immortality-then-all-the-evil/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“So how do you find out what God thinks? The Christian says, you look in the Bible. And the Bible tells us that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/so-how-do-you-find-out-what-god-thinks-the-christian-says-you-look-in/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [So whom does God wrong in commanding the destruction of the Canaanites? Not the Canaanite adults, for they were corrupt and deserving of judgment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/so-whom-does-god-wrong-in-commanding-the-destruction-of-the/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [ Richard \[Carrier\] takes the extremist position that Jesus of Nazareth never even existed, that there was no such person in history. This is a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/richard-carrier-takes-the-extremist-position-that-jesus-of-nazareth/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [ I am an Orangeman first and a politician and member of this parliament \[Stormont\] afterwards. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/i-am-an-orangeman-first-and-a-politician-and-member-of-this/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“In addition to these physical problems, sexually transmitted diseases are rampant among the homosexual population. 75% of homosexual men carry one or more sexually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/in-addition-to-these-physical-problems-sexually-transmitted-diseases/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) [Explore all 78 William Lane Craig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) ## More Reflection God quotes > [Man is the individualised expression or reflection of God imaged forth and made manifest in bodily form. How is it, then, I hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-trine/man-is-the-individualised-expression-or-reflection-of-god-imaged/) [Ralph Waldo Trine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-trine/) > [To me there is no difference between one person and another; I behold all as soul-reflection s of the one God. I can't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/to-me-there-is-no-difference-between-one-person-and-another-i-behold/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taken-from-the-forty-rules-of-love-by-elif-shafak/how-we-see-god-is-a-direct-reflection-of-how-we-see-ourselves-if-god/) [Taken from The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taken-from-the-forty-rules-of-love-by-elif-shafak/) > [“Be the reflection of God you want to see in the world...It all starts with YOU!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-r-jeffers/be-the-reflection-of-god-you-want-to-see-in-the-world-it-all-starts/) [Pamela R. Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-r-jeffers/) > [“YOU ARE JUST You are not just for the right or left, but for what is right over the wrong. You are not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-are-just-you-are-not-just-for-the-right-or-left-but-for-what-is/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [I have found that the more I reflect philosophically on the attributes of God the more overwhelmed I become at his greatness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/i-have-found-that-the-more-i-reflect-philosophically-on-the/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [God wants you to know..that you are beautiful,even when you feel ugly,depressed or guilty,there is an inner spark in your beauty,. This light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-wants-you-to-know-that-you-are-beautiful-even-when-you-feel-ugly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ What \[others\] most need is to see in you a reflection of what God is like and of the transforming power of the Gospel.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/what-others-most-need-is-to-see-in-you-a-reflection-of-what-god-is/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [Love is the reflection of God's unity in the world of duality. It constitutes the entire significance of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/love-is-the-reflection-of-god-s-unity-in-the-world-of-duality-it/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [The Lord is in everything that's in creation. So, when you look at a tree, it's really a reflection of God. You see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/the-lord-is-in-everything-that-s-in-creation-so-when-you-look-at-a/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/how-we-see-god-is-a-direct-reflection-of-how-we-see-ourselves-if-god-2/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [Art is a reflection of God's creativity, an evidence that we are made in the image of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/art-is-a-reflection-of-god-s-creativity-an-evidence-that-we-are-made/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [“Always let people see a reflection of God in you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/always-let-people-see-a-reflection-of-god-in-you/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Friendship is a reflection of god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-sharma/friendship-is-a-reflection-of-god/) [Pratik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-sharma/) > [The awesomeness of God is that even in the works of the Beach Boys, Beatles, etc., the beauty of the music is a mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-foster/the-awesomeness-of-god-is-that-even-in-the-works-of-the-beach-boys/) [John Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-foster/) [Browse all 20 Reflection God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection-god-623191/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely shut off reflection about God, rigorous and earnest effort to understand him is richly rewarded with deeper appreciation of who he is, more confidence in his reality and care, and a more intelligent and profound worship of his person.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Lane Craig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematurely-shut-off-reflection-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Reflection God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematurely-shut-off-reflection-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/william-lane-craig-8716_quote_whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematur_1047463.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely shut off reflection about God, rigorous and earnest effort to…” — William Lane Craig", "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": "William Lane Craig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Whereas easy appeals to mystery prematurely...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematurely-shut-off-reflection-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/whereas-easy-appeals-to-mystery-prematurely-shut-off-reflection-about/#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 } } ] } ```