20th-century Theologian Quotes

Pope Francis

Pope Benedict XVI

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Billy Graham

Josemaría Escrivá

Martin Niemöller

Helder Camara

Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy.

Our life is not given to us like an opera libretto, in which all is written down; but it means going, walking, doing, searching, seeing.... We must enter into the adventure of the quest for meeting God; we must let God search and encounter us.

It is in this wrestling that Jacob 'prevails with God', and realises that he has seen God face to face. He has overcome not God but his own rivalry. After this mysterious struggle he was able to recognise his wrongdoing and look his brother Esau in the face. Thus he was able to learn to live in peace with his brother—and become Israel, a community of brethren. (76).

No suffering can be foreign to a Christian, not even the anguish that comes with the loss of God.

Thomas J. J. Altizer

He is indeed the 'Lamb.' There is nothing harsh or haughty or retaliative about Him.

J. Sidlow Baxter

The human being of all times prays because he cannot fail to wonder about the meaning of his life, which remains obscure and discomforting of it is not put in relations to the mystery of God and if his plan for the world.

Pope Benedict XVI

The love for our enemies takes us along the way of the cross and into fellowship with the Crucified. The more we are driven along this road, the more certain is the victory of love over the enemy's hatred. For then it is not the disciple's own love, but the love of Jesus Christ alone, who for the sake of his enemies went to the cross and prayed for them as he hung there.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Any theology that is indifferent to the theme of liberation is not Christian theology.

If you make me your authority, you harm yourself because you will not see things for yourself, and you harm me too because you refuse to see me as I am.

Anthony de Mello

Believers have a genuine, unfailing hope of a future reunion with loved ones…we can find joy in anticipating our future reunion.

Work is man's original vocation. It is a blessing from God, and those who consider it a punishment are sadly mistaken.

Josemaría Escrivá

A wise man changes his mind sometimes, but a fool never. To change your mind is the best evidence you have one. The last redoubt holding out for me was the year-day principle (on which I had written a defense in 1972 for the Southern Publishing Association Daniel volume which was published in 1978). This collapsed when I handled hundreds of books of commentary on Revelation in the Library of Congress stacks and found that the respective authors had in many cases suggested dates that seemed appropriate for their own time but ridiculous later. It became clear that we, as Adventists, had done the same as our predecessors.

Humor and paradox are often the only ways to respond to life's sorrow with grace.

On every important issue life transcends logic and it is folly to depend on reason alone.

All mankind is crying out for guidance, for comfort, for peace.

A theology which has as its points of reference only "truths" which have been established once and for all—and not the Truth which is also the Way—can only be static and, in the long run, sterile.

Gustavo Gutiérrez

I am often criticized, or at least questions are raised, about what appears to be the absence of the Holy Spirit in my work.

Stanley Hauerwas

Live each day with an open ear toward heaven, eager to respond to any whisper from God.

(The Americans) advanced to within 500 meters from the Holy Mosque (in Najaf). On this occasion, I must thank and praise those in that complex who resist these bloodthirsty wolves.

Time and again we see leaders and members of religions incite aggression, fanaticism, hate, and xenophobia - even inspire and legitimate violent and bloody conflicts.

Despite one or two minority appeals our society is not outraged at man's unremitting use of the animal world. Ecologists and environmentalists may talk of "ecological consciousness" or "environmental responsibility" but seldom, if ever, is this responsibility articulated towards other non-human species in particular.

I was born Jewish and so I remain, even if that's unacceptable for many. For me, the vocation of Israel is bringing light to the goyim. That's my hope and I believe that Christianity is the means for achieving it.

Jean-Marie Cardinal Lustiger

Our noblest duty is to strive to reduce oppression, to be more [stringent] in our implementation of Islamic law... and to weaken the control of oppressive and tyrannical regimes over the oppressed. These [actions] can [hasten] the return of the Hidden Imam...

Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi

You should make the world understand that Israel is the oppressor and that Israel must be destroyed.

Modern capitalism has created a world totally different from anything known before.

Lesslie Newbigin