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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.
George Bernard Shaw
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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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