The vulgar modern argument used against religion, and…
““The vulgar modern argument used against religion, and lately against common decency, would be absolutely fatal to any idea of liberty. It is perpetually said that because there are a hundred religions claiming to be true, it is therefore impossible that one of them should really be true. The argument would appear on the face of it to be illogical, if anyone nowadays troubled about logic. It would be as reasonable to say that because some people thought the earth was flat, and others (rather less incorrectly) imagined it was round, and because anybody is free to say that it is triangular or hexagonal, or a rhomboid, therefore it has no shape at all; or its shape can never be discovered; and, anyhow, modern science must be wrong in saying it is an oblate spheroid. The world must be some shape, and it must be that shape and no other; and it is not self-evident that nobody can possibly hit on the right one. What so obviously applies to the material shape of the world equally applies to the moral shape of the universe. The man who describes it may not be right, but it is no argument against his rightness that a number of other people must be wrong.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The claim that many religions exist proves none can be true is a logical fallacy; diversity of belief doesn’t invalidate truth.
In simple terms: Many religions don’t mean none are true.
Key Takeaway
Don’t dismiss truth because of pluralism.
Themes
religion
logic
truth
pluralism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- debates on religious freedom
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical discussions
- public policy
- education
Key Concepts
philosophy
epistemology
religious tolerance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we evaluate truth among competing beliefs?
- Can pluralism coexist with absolute truth?
A Different Perspective
The argument ignores that truth can be singular despite multiple claims.