I've learned to distinguish between the greatness of God…
![“I've learned to distinguish between the greatness of God and the inexcusable evil that has been done by those professing his name. And so I do not deduce [as Christopher Hitchens does] that God is not great, and that religion poisons everything. After all, if I failed to distinguish between the…” quote by John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/248/john-lennox-19396_abuse_i-ve-learned-to-distinguish-between-the_1985734.jpg)
“I've learned to distinguish between the greatness of God and the inexcusable evil that has been done by those professing his name. And so I do not deduce [as Christopher Hitchens does] that God is not great, and that religion poisons everything. After all, if I failed to distinguish between the genius of Einstein and the abuse of his science to create weapons of mass destruction, I might be tempted to say science is not great, and technology poisons everything.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Distinguish between the moral failings of individuals who misuse religion and the inherent value of the divine; similarly, separate scientific achievements from their destructive applications.
In simple terms: Separate ideas from their misuse.
Key Takeaway
Judge ideas, not users.
Themes
ethics
theology
science
technology
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy development
- education
- public discourse
- personal belief
Key Concepts
morality
responsibility
dual‑use
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we hold people accountable without condemning whole systems?
- What criteria decide when a technology is ethically acceptable?
A Different Perspective
Complex issues cannot be reduced to simple binaries.