“Christianity's goal is not escape from this world. It loves this world and seeks to change it for the better.”
In this quote, Marcus J. Borg emphasizes the idea that Christianity is not about completely detaching oneself from the world, but rather about engaging with it and working towards making it a better place. This perspective highlights the importance of social justice, compassion, and active participation in creating a more just and loving world. Borg's words call on Christians to be agents of positive change and transformation in the world around them.
The quote by Marcus J. Borg emphasizes the idea that Christianity is not about withdrawing from the world, but rather actively engaging with it to bring about positive change. This perspective is relevant in today's world as it encourages Christians to address social issues and work towards creating a better society.
"“Christianity's goal is not escape from this world. It loves this world and seeks to change it for the better.” - Marcus J. Borg"
As Marcus J. Borg suggests, Christianity is not about withdrawing from the world but actively engaging with it in order to bring about positive change. Consider the following questions to reflect on this idea:
“But Christian illiteracy is only the first part of the crisis. Even more seriously, even for those who think they speak “Christian” fluently, the faith itself is often misunderstood and distorted by many to whom it is seemingly very familiar. They think they are speaking the language as it has always been understood, but what they mean by the words and concepts is so different from what these things have meant historically, that they would have trouble communicating with the very authors of the past they honor.”
“More than half described Christians as literalistic, anti-intellectual, judgmental, self-righteous, and bigoted.”
“This book might also be seen as “a Christian primer.” A primer teaches us how to read. Reading is not just about learning to recognize and pronounce words, but also about how to hear and understand them. This book’s purpose is to help us to read, hear, and inwardly digest Christian language without preconceived understandings getting in the way.”
“When we read Paul, we are reading somebody else’s mail—and unless we know the situation being addressed, his letters can be quite opaque...It is wise to remember that when we are reading letters never intended for us, any problems of understanding are ours and not theirs.”
“So, is there an afterlife, and if so, what will it be like? I don't have a clue. But I am confident that the one who has buoyed us up in life will also buoy us up through death. We die into God. What more that means, I do not know. But that is all I need to know.”
“The heaven-and-hell framework has four central elements: the afterlife, sin and forgiveness, Jesus’s dying for our sins, and believing.”