"It is impossible for us to understand the Church if we regard her as subject to the limitations of human culture. For she is essentially a supernatural organism which transcends human cultures and transforms them to her own ends"
- Christopher Dawson
About this Quote
This quote by Christopher Dawson speaks to the idea that the Church is not bound by the restrictions of human culture. Rather, it is a supernatural organism that is capable of going beyond and transforming human cultures to its own ends. This suggests that the Church is not limited by the borders of human culture, however rather can affecting and shaping it. This indicates that the Church is not just a human institution, but rather a divine one that can affecting the world in a powerful method. It is this supernatural power that allows the Church to transcend and transform human cultures, and it is this power that we need to comprehend if we are to truly understand the Church.
"What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things... it is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"Of course as children, we all, in all cultures and societies, learn behavior from observation, imitation, and encouragement of various kinds. So by the suggestion made, we all 'pretend' most of the time"
"Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when perfect, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future"
