Christianity is not about the divine becoming human so much as it is about the human becoming divine. That is a paradigm shift of the first order.
Interpretation
The essence of Christianity focuses on the potential for humans to attain divinity rather than just recognizing divine intervention in humanity.
This quote highlights a profound perspective within Christianity, suggesting that the emphasis is not solely on God taking human form, but rather on the transformative journey of humans aspiring to reach their own divine potential. This 'paradigm shift' inspires a more active participation in spiritual growth, encouraging individuals to elevate their own moral and spiritual existence.
In practice
In a sermon, a pastor might use this quote to inspire parishioners about their personal growth.
When I grew up in the South, I was taught that segregation was the will of God, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. I was taught that women were by nature in inferior to men, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. I was taught that it was okay to hate other religions, and especially the Jews, and the Bible was quoted to prove it.
The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end.
I would like the church to be a place where the questions of people are honored rather than a place where we have all the answers. The church has to get out of propaganda. The future will involve us in more interfaith dialogue. ... We cannot say we have the only truth.
It appears to be in the nature of religion itself to be prejudiced against those who are different.
The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing.
When the dust settles and the pages of history are written, it will not be the angry defenders of intolerance who have made the difference. The reward will go to those who dared to step outside the safety of their privacy in order to expose and rout the prevailing prejudices.
Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth, and so on. Those who become entangled in these false ideas are prevented from perceiving the Integral Oneness.
I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance, says Jesus. This is where true wealth is found, not in material things!
Meaning is produced not only by the relationship between the signifier and the signified but also, crucially, by the position of the signifiers in relation to other signifiers.
The sun is a thief: she lures the sea and robs it. The moon is a thief: he steals his silvery light from the sun. The sea is a thief: it dissolves the moon.
Americans are willing to go to enormous trouble and expense defending their principles with arms, very little trouble and expense advocating them with words. Temperamentally we are ready to die for certain principles (or, in the case of overripe adults, send youngsters to die), but we show little inclination to advertise the reasons for dying.
If the total energy of the universe must always remain zero, and it costs energy to create a body, how can a whole universe be created from nothing?
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