The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that a lot of superficial talk comes from those who have not deeply engaged with the subject matter.
John Shelby Spong's quote compares the church to a swimming pool, emphasizing that the more trivial and loud voices often dominate discussions, reflecting a shallow understanding of faith and spirituality. It suggests that deeper insights and profound wisdom are often found among those who are quiet and contemplative, much like the depth of a swimming pool where fewer people venture.
In practice
During a sermon, when addressing the importance of deeper understanding in faith discussions.
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.
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.
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.
If there were no human nature, then there would be nothing for deliberate effort to be applied to. If there were no deliberate effort, then human nature would not be able to beautify itself.
I think that has to do with my awareness that in a sense we all have a certain measure of responsibility to those who have made it possible for us to take advantage of the opportunities.
Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature.
There is one power in the Universe and we can all use it.
Repentance is the vomit of the soul.
The wretch condemn'd with life to part,_x000D_ _x000D_ Still, still on hope relies;_x000D_ _x000D_ And every pang that rends the heart_x000D_ _x000D_ Bids expectation rise.
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