Skip to content

One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural…

“One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural tradition like the biblical one is that a deity or context of deities becomes crystallized, petrified at a certain time and place. The deity doesn’t continue to grow, expand, or take into account new cultural forces and new realizations in…” quote by Joseph Campbell
Download Open image
“One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural tradition like the biblical one is that a deity or context of deities becomes crystallized, petrified at a certain time and place. The deity doesn’t continue to grow, expand, or take into account new cultural forces and new realizations in the sciences, and the result is this make-believe conflict we have in our culture between science and religion.”

Joseph Campbell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Religious traditions can become rigid, making it hard to reconcile with evolving scientific understanding.

In simple terms: Religion can become fixed, clashing with new science.

Key Takeaway

Encourage flexible, evolving spiritual perspectives.

Themes

religion science culture tradition

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • interfaith dialogue
  • education reform
  • personal belief reassessment
  • public policy

Key Concepts

theology epistemology cognitive rigidity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can traditions adapt without losing identity?
  • What role should science play in faith?
A Different Perspective

Some may view flexibility as diluting core faith values.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Joseph Campbell

Explore all 711 Joseph Campbell quotes

More Accounts quotes

Browse all 2,677 Accounts quotes