That many good men have believed this strange fable…
![“That many good men have believed this strange fable [Christianity], and lived very good lives under that belief (for credulity is not a crime) is what I have no doubt of. In the first place, they were educated to believe it, and they would have believed anything else in the same manner . There are…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/ef2/thomas-paine-267_absurdity_that-many-good-men-have-believed-this-st_2075778.jpg)
““That many good men have believed this strange fable [Christianity], and lived very good lives under that belief (for credulity is not a crime) is what I have no doubt of. In the first place, they were educated to believe it, and they would have believed anything else in the same manner . There are also many who have been so enthusiastically enraptured by what they conceived to be the infinite love of God to man, in making a sacrifice of himself, that the vehemence of the idea has forbidden and deterred them from examining into the absurdity and profaneness of the story.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques how people accept religious beliefs without critical examination, attributing moral goodness to faith rather than reason.
In simple terms: People can be good while believing unexamined ideas.
Key Takeaway
Question beliefs with reason.
Themes
religion
skepticism
education
morality
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
skeptical
analytical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- academic study
- public discourse
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
faith
critical thinking
dogma
Questions to Reflect On
- How does education shape belief?
- Can morality exist without religion?
A Different Perspective
Faith may provide comfort even if unexamined; not all moral behavior stems from belief.