We often hear the teachers of all creeds lamenting the…
“We often hear the teachers of all creeds lamenting the difficulty of keeping up in the minds of believers a lively apprehension of the truth which they nominally recognize, so that it may penetrate the feelings, and acquire a real mastery over the conduct… When it has come to be a hereditary creed, and to be received passively, not actively ... there is a progressive tendency to forget all of the belief except the formularies ... until it almost ceases to connect itself at all with the inner life of the human being.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
When belief becomes a passive creed, people forget its deeper meaning, reducing faith to empty formulas disconnected from lived experience.
In simple terms: Faith turned into empty formulas loses real impact.
Key Takeaway
Encourage active, personal engagement with ideas.
Themes
faith
education
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- religious instruction
- philosophical teaching
- personal development
- cultural transmission
Key Concepts
creed
passivity
intellectual honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- What practices keep belief alive beyond rote learning?
- How can we balance tradition with personal understanding?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep beliefs is slow and may meet resistance.