Personal, inner change without a change in circumstances and structures is an idealist illusion, as though man were only a soul and not a body as well.
Jurgen MoltmannRead
In Christian terms, evangelization and humanization are not alternatives. Nor are the 'vertical dimension' of faith and the 'horizontal dimension' of love for one's neighbor and political change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Faith and love are interconnected and both essential for meaningful human existence.
This quote emphasizes that in Christian thought, the act of evangelization (spreading faith) and humanization (promoting human dignity) are two sides of the same coin. Additionally, it suggests that the spiritual dimension of faith (vertical dimension) and the call to love others and engage in social change (horizontal dimension) are not separate pursuits but are deeply intertwined and necessary for a holistic understanding of faith in action.
Themes
FaithLoveEvangelizationHumanizationSocial Change
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing community service, one might use this quote to illustrate the relationship between faith and action.
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