A large section of the idling classes of England get their…
“A large section of the idling classes of England get their incomes by believing that Jesus was born of a virgin and that Jonah swallowed a whale; and with the progress of science they were naturally finding this more and more difficult. A school of ingenious Bible-twisters arose, to invent symbolical and literary meanings for fairy tales, in order that people who no longer believed could continue with good conscience to collect the salaries of belief.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He critiques how religious belief becomes a profession, with scholars inventing symbolic meanings to sustain belief despite scientific progress.
In simple terms: Religion can become a career, adapting to scientific challenges.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind belief systems.
Themes
religion
skepticism
intellectual honesty
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academia
- public discourse
- media analysis
Key Concepts
faith
economics of belief
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people cling to belief despite contradictory evidence?
- How does economic incentive shape religious interpretation?