Being Human is about the sanctity of life, told from a Christian perspective, with examples from the bible, literature, science, business and life that give life to the expression that the Kingdom of God is within all of us.
Being Human Summary
Being Human is a book about making the most of our lives.
Written by a Baptist minister and founder of the Oasis Trust charity, the narrative combines religious insight with contemporary events creating an engaging story that is sure to appeal for anyone who struggles with the complexities of life.
Below are some of the key insights from the book.
Key Insights
- Most people are consumed by the mundane in life and end up living in a spirituality impoverished manner, without a greater purpose.
- Our greatest danger isn’t that we aim to high and miss but that we aim to low and hit the target.
- We don’t have to think of the major religions of the world as labels because in reality they are just beliefs, behaviours and character commitments.
- Faith is a matter of character and self awareness and Sin is simply a shorthand for everything that doesn’t serve our highest goals.
- The same bricklayer can define themselves as ‘laying brick’, ‘earning £5 an hour’ or ‘building the world’s greatest cathedral’
- The story you tell yourself becomes the lens through which you see your life.
- It’s more important to define your telos (highest goal) in life than anything else.
- Alfred Nobel read his own obituary which described him as ‘The Merchant of Death’ and resolved to give 95% of his fortune to a foundation for peace, science and arts.
- There is a balance between IQ, EQ and SQ (spiritual intelligence) the latter of which deals with teleological questions and personal integrity.
- Life is not an exam or a rulebook so we don’t have to be a passive recipient of spiritual teaching.
- Talent is really just determination and practice with great artists like Picasso, Beethoven and Mozart notable for their hours of practice.
- Thoughts > Actions > Habits > Character > Destiny
- Character is built up through incremental improvements and microresolutions similar to marginal gains in British Cycling.
- The Christian ideal hasn’t been tried and found wanting, it’s been difficult and left untried.
- While non-violence seems unrealistic, whoever opts for revenge should always die two graves.
- Discovery is not the practice of looking at new sights but looking with new eyes – Proust
- We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools – MLK
- No man is an island. The bell always tolls for the – John Donne