Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
Awareness of the divine begins with wonder.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True awareness of the divine starts with a sense of awe and curiosity about the world.
Abraham Joshua Heschel's quote emphasizes that recognizing the divine presence requires a sense of wonder. This sense of wonder is essential to develop an understanding of the profound mysteries of life and existence, suggesting that an open mind and heart are crucial for spiritual awakening and deeper connection to the divine.
Themes
AwarenessDivineWonderSpiritualityCuriosity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire a discussion in a spiritual gathering about the importance of wonder in faith.
More from Abraham Joshua Heschel
All quotes βNormal consciousness is a state of stupor, in which the sensibility to the wholly real and responsiveness to the stimuli of the spirit are reduced. The mystics, knowing that man is involved in a hidden history of the cosmos, endeavor to awake from the drowsiness and apathy and to regain the state of wakefulness for their enchanted souls.
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Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge, or rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
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The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.
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We worship God through our questions.
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When religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion, its message becomes meaningless.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
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