Frederica Mathewes-Green Quotes

Powerful Frederica Mathewes-Green for Daily Growth

About Frederica Mathewes-Green

Frederica Mathewes-Green, an American Orthodox Christian writer, speaker, and cultural critic, was born on May 15, 1960, in Washington D.C., to a family deeply rooted in the Anglican tradition. Her father, Thomas G. Green Jr., was a prominent political scientist, while her mother, Jane R. W. Greene, was a poet and author. Mathewes-Green's spiritual journey began at an early age but took a significant turn when she converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in 1988. This life-altering decision profoundly influenced her writing, particularly in exploring themes of faith, culture, and family. Her first book, "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God" (1993), delves into this traditional Orthodox prayer, drawing on both personal experience and historical context. This work became a modern classic and is widely read among those seeking a deeper understanding of the prayer's spiritual significance. Mathewes-Green continued to write extensively on faith-related topics, including "The Open Heaven: A Contemporary Exploration of Orthodox Christian Spirituality" (1996) and "Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy" (2008). Her work also extends to cultural criticism, such as in her book "Real Food: What to Eat When Love is Not Enough" (2005), where she discusses the relationship between food, faith, and family. In addition to her writing, Mathewes-Green is a sought-after speaker and has been featured on various radio and television programs. Her work continues to inspire and influence readers worldwide, blending spiritual depth with contemporary relevance.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"It is easier to believe in miracles than to believe that the universe runs without a purpose."

This quote suggests that it may be more natural or intuitive for humans to accept the existence of a higher purpose or meaning behind the universe, rather than accepting that events occur randomly without any specific intention or goal. The idea of miracles here could symbolize events that seem extraordinary or unexplainable by our current understanding, and are often associated with divine intervention or a larger cosmic plan. In other words, it might be easier for some people to believe in the possibility of miraculous, purposeful events than in the concept of a seemingly purposeless, random universe.


"Hope is not a feeling; it is a decision."

This quote suggests that hope isn't something that simply happens or a fleeting emotion, but rather an active choice or decision one makes, particularly during challenging times. It highlights the idea that despite difficult circumstances, individuals can choose to maintain optimism and belief in a positive outcome. In essence, it encourages us to take control over our mindset and cultivate hope as a deliberate act of resilience.


"True love is about wanting to see the other person become the best version of themselves, even when it means letting go of the relationship."

This quote emphasizes a selfless, growth-oriented perspective in relationships. It suggests that true love is not only about personal satisfaction or attachment, but about fostering the growth and potential of the other person, even if that means relinquishing the relationship itself. The implication is that a loving partner should encourage and support the personal development of their significant other, valuing their well-being above the preservation of the bond itself.


"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable."

This quote by Frederica Mathewes-Green suggests that seeking and embracing truth can be a challenging process, as it often exposes areas of our lives or beliefs that are incorrect or flawed. This recognition may bring feelings of discomfort or unhappiness, but in the end, the understanding and acceptance of the truth will ultimately lead to personal growth and freedom.


"We have forgotten that we belong to each other."

This quote by Frederica Mathewes-Green suggests a loss of awareness for our interconnectedness as human beings. In today's world, people often focus on their individual goals, ambitions, and problems, forgetting that our actions can impact others and vice versa. This forgotten sense of belonging to each other highlights the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding in society. By remembering that we are all connected, we may foster a more harmonious and caring world.


God is not looking for repayment, but repentance. What heals a broken relationship is sincere love and contrition.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Love, Broken, Contrition, Heals

What's wrong with us isn't a rap sheet of bad deeds, but a damaged heart, a soul-sickness, that plunges us into fearful self-protection, alienation from God and others.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Bad, Deeds, Rap, Alienation

Of the seven deadly sins, anger has long been the one with the best box of costumes. When the guy in the next car rages at you, he's dangerous. When you rage at him, you're just. We can usually recognize the results of anger, especially in others, as destructive and evil.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Next, Dangerous, Been, Deadly

The Bible, that powerful book, has many effects: it comforts, counsels, instructs, and brings us into the presence of God. But trying to erase offense as one of its functions is a fundamentally misguided task.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Bible, Offense, Functions, Erase

People don't do theology in a vacuum but in a community with other theological thinkers, where there's jealousy, vanity, hurt pride, all those things.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Other, Theology, Thinkers, Theological

People just don't realize how much peer pressure, the desire for peer acclamation, influences them.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Pressure, Desire, Them, Peer Pressure

Women don't need to have our own little corner of the church where we can feel precious or, alternatively, cranky. In every essential thing, as far as life in Christ is concerned, the differences between men and women are irrelevant.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Own, Irrelevant, Concerned, Essential

I've been able to dig deeper into awareness of my own sinfulness, and take baby steps toward spiritual healing. I'm able to worship in an ancient communion full of awesome beauty, one that is now being blessed with quiet revival.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Beauty, Dig, Been, Revival

I think intellectualizing annoys me because it is the enemy of experience; you cannot experience the presence of God and analyze it at the same time. You can't analyze anything and experience it simultaneously.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Think, I Think, Same Time, Analyze

As a teenager and a student, I totally cast away the Christian faith. I just believed it was stupid, and only stupid people could believe it. I actually became an anti-Christian, and very antagonistic.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Stupid, Very, Became, Stupid People

The New Testament Scriptures are full of references to the malice of the devil, but we generally overlook them. I think this is because our idea of salvation is that Christ died on the cross to pay His Father the debt for our sins.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

References, Idea, I Think, Scriptures

It is tragic that some Christians have been so battered with stories of a prideful, vindictive God that they have fled from Jesus' fold.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Some, Been, Christians, Vindictive

Women and men just aren't that different. Oh, we're different in some intriguing ways, and it can be fun to band together for all-gal or all-guy projects. But when it comes to the tragic mess Christ came to heal, we're pretty much the same.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Some, Mess, Projects, Heal

Temptation coaxes us toward sin, and sin leads to sickness and death, and ultimately confinement in the realm of the evil one.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Death, Sickness, Ultimately, Confinement

Somehow we just don't make the same boisterous fun of Holy Week that we do of Christmas. No one plans to have a holly, jolly Easter.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Week, Holy, Boisterous, Jolly

The Orthodox hierarchy doesn't have the kind of power that high-ranking clergy do in other churches. There isn't even a worldwide governing board to hold all the various Orthodox bodies together.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Kind, Other, Bodies, Board

The devil's main purpose is not to scare us, in a horror-movie way; when we're scared of him, we're alert to him, and that might undermine his plans. Instead, he wants to quietly, subtly lure us into stepping away from God.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Purpose, Scare, Away, Scared

The Church is the safe place to be. I can safely believe everything the Church teaches. It will not harm me, and in fact it will equip me to grow and grow and have a better and better ability to experience that direct presence.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Grow, Fact, Harm, Equip

Lots of Orthodox go to church every Sunday but don't know much about the faith. Yet they know that there is something that they don't know much about.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Church, Go, Every Sunday, Orthodox

There are lots of things to like about being Eastern Orthodox - incense, liturgies, all the baklava you can eat - but you know what I like best? None of that stupid 'women's ministry' stuff.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Stupid, Like, Eastern, Orthodox

After I graduated from college, while traveling around Europe, hitchhiking, doing the tourist thing, I went into a church in Dublin.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

College, Doing, Dublin, Graduated

God's presence is not just Light, and Life, but Love. And Love invites, but does not compel.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Love, Light, Does, Presence

My mother was an unbeliever - and still is. My father was a nominal Catholic. We would go in to church at the last minute before the gospel reading, take Communion, and walk right out again.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Last, Before, Still, Nominal

I was raised in a nominal Roman Catholic home, but without any really strong faith there.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Strong, Raised, Roman, Nominal

The Church's teaching isn't an official statement, but the cumulative understanding of all the people who have loved and experienced Jesus through time.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Church, Through, Official, Experienced

Easter may seem boring to children, and it is blessedly unencumbered by the silly fun that plagues Christmas. Yet it contains the one thing needful for every human life: the good news of Resurrection.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Good, Good News, Easter, Resurrection

You can latch onto theological ideas that are, in fact, not accurate, and refuse to let them go. I think we've seen this a few times in church history.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Think, Fact, I Think, Theological

Someone who wanted to challenge Orthodoxy would not be able to locate a building to hold a protest march in front of. The faith is too diffused.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Faith, Protest, Locate, March

Easter tells us of something children can't understand, because it addresses things they don't yet have to know: the weariness of life, the pain, the profound loneliness and hovering fear of meaninglessness.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Pain, Understand, Easter, Weariness

The Christmas story has such power and such appeal every year. There are other stories we get tired of. You think of your favorite movie; you don't want to watch it 15 times.

- Frederica Mathewes-Green

Think, Other, Stories, Favorite Movie

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