What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
The Old Testament God is a person with body parts and passions. The Church of England God has neither body, parts nor passions, and is therefore not a person.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote contrasts the anthropomorphic depiction of God in the Old Testament with a more abstract, impersonal view of God in the Church of England.
George Bernard Shaw critiques the differing representations of God in religious texts, suggesting that the Old Testament presents a God with human-like qualities, while the Church of England presents a more philosophical, non-corporeal interpretation of divinity. This reflects a broader debate about the nature of God, individuality, and how humans conceive of the divine in different theological frameworks.
Themes
GodReligionPhilosophyTheologyHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about the nature of God, this quote can provoke thought about personal versus abstract interpretations of divinity.
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