Building upon this early conception of the Church, Christians came to think of it as having a double aspect. Insofar as it consists of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwelling in people and suffusing them with grace and love, it is perfect. Insofar as it consists of fallible human members, it always falls short of perfection.9 The worldly face of the Church is always open to criticism. But its mistakes, Christians hold, have been due to the human material through which it works.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
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Christians have developed a dual understanding of the Church over time. On one hand, it is seen as a perfect entity where Christ and the Holy Spirit reside within believers, bestowing grace and love. This portrays the Church as an ideal spiritual community. On the other hand, because it is made up of human members, it inevitably experiences shortcomings and imperfections. These flaws are acknowledged and are subject to criticism, reflecting the limitations of its human constituents.

Despite its worldly imperfections, Christians believe that the failings of the Church stem from the human nature of its members rather than from the divine essence of the Church itself. This perspective allows believers to reconcile the Church's spiritual ideals with the reality of human error and fallibility. Thus, while the Church as an institution may face scrutiny, its foundational spiritual core remains untainted by the imperfections of its members.

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The World's Religions,...
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Other quotes in The World's Religions, Revised and Updated

We are limited in joy, knowledge, and being, the three things people really want.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
We are limited in joy, knowledge, and being, the three things people really want.
We should witness all things non-reactively, especially our moods and emotions, neither condemning some nor holding on to others.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
We should witness all things non-reactively, especially our moods and emotions, neither condemning some nor holding on to others.
Religion arose out of celebration and its opposite, bereavement, both of which cry out for collective expression.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
Religion arose out of celebration and its opposite, bereavement, both of which cry out for collective expression.
Building upon this early conception of the Church, Christians came to think of it as having a double aspect. Insofar as it consists of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwelling in people and suffusing them with grace and love, it is perfect. Insofar as it consists of fallible human members, it always falls short of perfection.9 The worldly face of the Church is always open to criticism. But its mistakes, Christians hold, have been due to the human material through which it works.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
Building upon this early conception of the Church, Christians came to think of it as having a double aspect. Insofar as it consists of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwelling in people and suffusing them with grace and love, it is perfect. Insofar as it consists of fallible human members, it always falls short of perfection.9 The worldly face of the Church is always open to criticism. But its mistakes, Christians hold, have been due to the human material through which it works.
Do not seek after truth. Merely cease to hold opinions.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
Do not seek after truth. Merely cease to hold opinions.
Just as a man carrying on his head a load of wood that has caught fire would go rushing to a pond to quench the flames, even so will the seeker of truth, scorched by the fires of life-birth, death, self-deluding futility-go rushing to a teacher wise to the ways of the things that matter most.
Huston Smith The World's Religions,...
Just as a man carrying on his head a load of wood that has caught fire would go rushing to a pond to quench the flames, even so will the seeker of truth, scorched by the fires of life-birth, death, self-deluding futility-go rushing to a teacher wise to the ways of the things that matter most.
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Other quotes in book quote

All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Edward Gorey Ascending Peculiarity:...
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Dear Ijeawele, or A...
{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
Mario Vargas Llosa The call of the tribe
«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
Peter F. Hamilton The Evolutionary Void
"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
When had it become so ingrained in her to apologize whenever she wanted something for herself?
Robin Hobb The Rain Wilds...
When had it become so ingrained in her to apologize whenever she wanted something for herself?
Relationships and marriages are hard enough, but you add war into the mix and small fissures become gaping wounds. No one sees what you're seeing - again that clear-eyed, unbiased thing - except your fellow soldiers. It's like one of those movies where only the hero can see the ghosts and everyone else thinks the hero is crazy.
Harlan Coben Fool Me Once
Relationships and marriages are hard enough, but you add war into the mix and small fissures become gaping wounds. No one sees what you're seeing - again that clear-eyed, unbiased thing - except your fellow soldiers. It's like one of those movies where only the hero can see the ghosts and everyone else thinks the hero is crazy.
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