--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion is separate from the institution…" description: "\"Religion is separate from the institution of the state.\" — Akbar Ganji" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg" --- # Religion is separate from the institution of the state. ![“Religion is separate from the institution of the state.” quote by Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg) > “Religion is separate from the institution of the state.” [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion should be separate from state authority, ensuring freedom of belief and preventing governmental control over faith. **In simple terms:** Religion and state must stay distinct. Key Takeaway Support secular governance to protect religious liberty. Themes secularism freedom of religion political theory Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - constitutions - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts church‑state separation human rights Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from secular policies? - How can societies balance tradition with separation? A Different Perspective Implementation varies across cultures; challenges persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution/) [Institution State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution-state-1106540/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Separate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-separate-1005314/) [Separate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separate/) [Separate Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separate-institution-3705673/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [... we have gratefully to receive from the hand of God the institution of the state with its magistrates as a means of preservation……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/we-have-gratefully-to-receive-from-the-hand-of-god-the-institution-of/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [In my own life, my science and my religion are separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-rubin/in-my-own-life-my-science-and-my-religion-are-separate/) [Vera Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-rubin/) > [A corporation is a state created institution, state supported institution, its concentration of private power, there is no reason why it should have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-corporation-is-a-state-created-institution-state-supported/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Outlawing religion form the political arena is not what the Founding Fathers intended when they drafted the First Amendment. We do a grave disservice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bright/outlawing-religion-form-the-political-arena-is-not-what-the-founding/) [Bill Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bright/) > [The spiritual world needs two revolutions: One is to separate God from religion and the other is to separate religion from God! This purification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-spiritual-world-needs-two-revolutions-one-is-to-separate-god-from/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [No religion has a separate God showering grace only on those who profess to abide by that faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/no-religion-has-a-separate-god-showering-grace-only-on-those-who/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [I think science and religion should be separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/i-think-science-and-religion-should-be-separate/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [Never let religion separate you from the ones you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey/never-let-religion-separate-you-from-the-ones-you-love/) [Joey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey/) > [“no word in the Hebrew language of that period for “religion.” Religion was not a separate, identifiable category of beliefs and activities. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-elliott-friedman/no-word-in-the-hebrew-language-of-that-period-for-religion-religion/) [Richard Elliott Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-elliott-friedman/) > [“Race and religion do not separate people; ignorance does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/race-and-religion-do-not-separate-people-ignorance-does/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Religion can't separate us, politics can't divide us, wealth can't classify us. We're all one! We're children of LOVE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-kumar/religion-can-t-separate-us-politics-can-t-divide-us-wealth-can-t/) [Abhishek Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-kumar/) > [Religion is not something separate and apart from ordinary life. It is life - life of every kind viewed from the standpoint of meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-powell-davies/religion-is-not-something-separate-and-apart-from-ordinary-life-it-is/) [A. Powell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-powell-davies/) > [Every institution goes through three stages - utility, privilege, and abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/every-institution-goes-through-three-stages-utility-privilege-and/) [François-René de Chateaubriand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/) > [I don't believe that someone who sets up an institution should be able to take out the money from the institution or pay dividends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pallam-raju/i-don-t-believe-that-someone-who-sets-up-an-institution-should-be/) [Pallam Raju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pallam-raju/) > [The institution of marriage, if you look at it over many centuries, has come and gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-zeldin/the-institution-of-marriage-if-you-look-at-it-over-many-centuries-has/) [Theodore Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-zeldin/) ## More by Akbar Ganji > [When I say that I am opposed to this budget, everyone says, "Well, what do you think the United States should do?" My response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/when-i-say-that-i-am-opposed-to-this-budget-everyone-says-well-what/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [You cannot bring democracy to a country by attacking it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/you-cannot-bring-democracy-to-a-country-by-attacking-it/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [ The issue has two dimensions. One is the legal dimension and the other one is the issue at the realpolitik. \[In the\] legal realm,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-issue-has-two-dimensions-one-is-the-legal-dimension-and-the-other/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [ \[In\] every revolution, there is a great divergence between what the revolutionaries expect and what the revolution actually accomplishes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/in-every-revolution-there-is-a-great-divergence-between-what-the/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [The ecological movement is concerned about this, and this is in here, where everything is public. In Iran, where everything is covert, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-ecological-movement-is-concerned-about-this-and-this-is-in-here/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [I am only speaking of my own behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/i-am-only-speaking-of-my-own-behalf/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [We must struggle for creating a democratic system that is dedicated to democracy and human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/we-must-struggle-for-creating-a-democratic-system-that-is-dedicated/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [When there is a crisis, the first thing that gets damaged and gets harmed is democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/when-there-is-a-crisis-the-first-thing-that-gets-damaged-and-gets/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [Negotiation talks are the best way to solve anything. We must replace wars and weapons with negotiations and talks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/negotiation-talks-are-the-best-way-to-solve-anything-we-must-replace/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [There's all kind of evidence that there is enormous corruption in the distribution of that money. For example, they gave about $100 to $150…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/there-s-all-kind-of-evidence-that-there-is-enormous-corruption-in-the/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [Let me begin by saying not only you can't have democracy with $75 million. You can't even have it with $750 billion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/let-me-begin-by-saying-not-only-you-can-t-have-democracy-with-75/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [ The number of the opposition has certainly increased \[in Iran\]. There is more disgruntlement, but because there is no media, the voice of this… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-number-of-the-opposition-has-certainly-increased-in-iran-there-is/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [Three of our provinces have seen mass uprisings. The three provinces are Khuzestan, Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan. Recently, we witnessed massive demonstration by Iranian woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/three-of-our-provinces-have-seen-mass-uprisings-the-three-provinces/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [The solutions to the problems of the distraught lower strata of society are problems that can only be solved in the context of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-solutions-to-the-problems-of-the-distraught-lower-strata-of/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [I am against revolution and am proud of it. Democracy cannot be created through revolutions. The most important dichotomy that I make for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/i-am-against-revolution-and-am-proud-of-it-democracy-cannot-be/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) [Explore all 47 Akbar Ganji quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) ## More Institution quotes > [It's more than a game. It's an institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/it-s-more-than-a-game-it-s-an-institution/) [Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/) > [The institution of marriage, if you look at it over many centuries, has come and gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-zeldin/the-institution-of-marriage-if-you-look-at-it-over-many-centuries-has/) [Theodore Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-zeldin/) > [I don't believe that someone who sets up an institution should be able to take out the money from the institution or pay dividends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pallam-raju/i-don-t-believe-that-someone-who-sets-up-an-institution-should-be/) [Pallam Raju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pallam-raju/) > [The military is the most esteemed American institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-keilar/the-military-is-the-most-esteemed-american-institution/) [Brianna Keilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-keilar/) > [“If two is an institution and three is a person, what are four and five?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oyokids-publications/if-two-is-an-institution-and-three-is-a-person-what-are-four-and-five/) [OyoKids Publications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oyokids-publications/) > [The British monarchy has the political and constitutional task of subtracting from the government and governors of Britain the papal and kingly airs that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/the-british-monarchy-has-the-political-and-constitutional-task-of/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“Church historians often ask, ‘Is the church a movement or an institution?' . . . I think it is both. . . . I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-l-shelley/church-historians-often-ask-is-the-church-a-movement-or-an/) [Bruce L. Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-l-shelley/) > [“I left that church with rich and royal hatred of the priest as a person, and a loathing for the church as an institution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-left-that-church-with-rich-and-royal-hatred-of-the-priest-as-a/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“Modern society, the political body, the legal and judiciary system, the state of governance, capitalism and the very fabric of the society itself, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/modern-society-the-political-body-the-legal-and-judiciary-system-the/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [While I believe in marriage as an institution, I am also petrified of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-kapoor/while-i-believe-in-marriage-as-an-institution-i-am-also-petrified-of/) [Shahid Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-kapoor/) > [I've gotten e-mails asking, 'Are you taking students?' Well, come visit and I'll be happy to talk to you. But I'm not a degree-granting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-garrett-lisi/i-ve-gotten-e-mails-asking-are-you-taking-students-well-come-visit/) [Antony Garrett Lisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-garrett-lisi/) > [One of my goals here in Congress, being the youngest member of the California delegation, is to really try and get the institution to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/one-of-my-goals-here-in-congress-being-the-youngest-member-of-the/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [I think it'd be useful for parents to know kind of what is the culture of an institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-spellings/i-think-it-d-be-useful-for-parents-to-know-kind-of-what-is-the/) [Margaret Spellings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-spellings/) > [Say what you will about the leadership of 'SNL,' they have crafted an institution as opposed to just running a show. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lamarr/say-what-you-will-about-the-leadership-of-snl-they-have-crafted-an/) [Phil LaMarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lamarr/) > [Every institution goes through three stages - utility, privilege, and abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/every-institution-goes-through-three-stages-utility-privilege-and/) [François-René de Chateaubriand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/) [Browse all 253 Institution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religion is separate from the institution of the state.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Akbar Ganji" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/religion-is-separate-from-the-institution-of-the-state/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Institution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/religion-is-separate-from-the-institution-of-the-state/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/akbar-ganji-14195_institutions_religion-is-separate-from-the-institutio_2027403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Religion is separate from the institution of the state.” — Akbar Ganji", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Akbar Ganji", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Religion is separate from the institution...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/religion-is-separate-from-the-institution-of-the-state/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/religion-is-separate-from-the-institution-of-the-state/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```