Now, I appeal to the consciences of those that persecute…
“Now, I appeal to the consciences of those that persecute, torment, destroy, and kill other men upon pretence of religion, whether they do it out of friendship and kindness towards them or no? I say, if all this be done merely to make men Christians and procure their salvation, why then do they suffer whoredom, fraud, malice and such-like enormities, which (according to the Apostle) manifestly relish of heathenish corruption, to predominate so much and abound amongst their flocks and people?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Religiously motivated violence contradicts moral teachings, exposing hypocrisy and corruption.
In simple terms: Religion used to justify cruelty is hypocritical.
Key Takeaway
Question religious justification of violence.
Themes
religion
hypocrisy
violence
morality
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political policy
- interfaith dialogue
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
theology
ethics
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies prevent religious justification of harm?
- What role does personal conscience play in confronting such hypocrisy?
A Different Perspective
Religious arguments can be twisted to serve power.