Plenty of kind, decent, caring people have no religious beliefs, and they act out of the goodness of their hearts. Conversely, plenty of people who profess to be religious, even those who worship regularly, show no particular interest in the world beyond themselves.

John Danforth (b. 1936), US-Senator, Diplomat und episkopaler Priester

Topics: Church & Congregation, Service & Love of Neighbour, Doubt & Hard Questions

Occasions: For Reflection

John Danforth

John Danforth (* 1936) ist ein US-amerikanischer Jurist, Politiker und ordinierter Priester der Episkopalkirche, der Missouri von 1976 bis 1995 im US-Senat vertrat und als US-Botschafter bei den Vereinten Nationen wirkte. Bekannt ist er für sein Eintreten für parteiübergreifenden Dialog sowie für seine Kritik an der Instrumentalisierung von Religion in der Politik, während seine vehemente Unterstützung des Richters Clarence Thomas 1991 öffentliche Kontroversen auslöste. Für Bibelleser veranschaulicht sein Wirken das Bemühen um eine christlich begründete Ethik im öffentlichen Raum, die Demut betont und vor parteipolitischer Vereinnahmung des Glaubens warnt.

All quotes by John Danforth (4)

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The Bible in the pulpit must never supersede the Bible at home.

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In essential unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all this charity.

Rupertus Meldenius

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.

Henry Ward Beecher

I rejected the church for a time because I found so little grace there. I returned because I found grace nowhere else.

Philip Yancey

There is no perfect church. And besides, dear friend, if you ever found a perfect church, it would refuse to take you in. For as soon as it had taken you in, it would cease to be perfect. So your search is entirely useless.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

In a congregation, every person must be able to be as their heart truly is.

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

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