--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, believers and non-believers and…" description: "\"Yes, believers and non-believers and skeptics can all live together and get along. But there cannot be an imperialistic imposition of religion by the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/alan-dershowitz-2194_atheist_yes-believers-and-non-believers-and-skep_3140536.png" --- # Yes, believers and non-believers and skeptics can all live… ![“Yes, believers and non-believers and skeptics can all live together and get along. But there cannot be an imperialistic imposition of religion by the state or by the church. All people must be equal--believers, skeptics, disbelievers, atheists, and those who chose religion. Unless we are all…” quote by Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/alan-dershowitz-2194_atheist_yes-believers-and-non-believers-and-skep_3140536.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/alan-dershowitz-2194_atheist_yes-believers-and-non-believers-and-skep_3140536.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/alan-dershowitz-2194_atheist_yes-believers-and-non-believers-and-skep_3140536.png) > “Yes, believers and non-believers and skeptics can all live together and get along. But there cannot be an imperialistic imposition of religion by the state or by the church. All people must be equal--believers, skeptics, disbelievers, atheists, and those who chose religion. Unless we are all deemed equal, and unless the morality of disbelief is deemed the equivalent of the morality of belief, we will simply be tolerated, and that is not the American way.” [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A society must protect equal rights for all belief systems without imposing any religion through government or institutions. **In simple terms:** All beliefs deserve equal treatment, no state religion. Key Takeaway Ensure secular policies and equal moral respect. Themes religious freedom equality secularism Mood thoughtful balanced Type ethical political When to use this quote - school policies - workplace accommodations - public debates - interfaith initiatives Key Concepts human rights pluralism tolerance Questions to Reflect On - How can laws reflect both freedom of religion and freedom from religion? - What safeguards prevent covert religious bias? A Different Perspective Balancing majority values with minority rights can be politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Believers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believers/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Disbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelief/) [Disbelievers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelievers/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Non believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-believer/) [Non Believers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-believers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Skeptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptic/) ## Related quotes > [In the world there are believers and then there are non-believers. For all of you non-believers out there, I have something to say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-tomjanovich/in-the-world-there-are-believers-and-then-there-are-non-believers-for/) Rudy Tomjanovich > [“There Are No Believers in This World: There Are Only the Make Believers and the Non-Believers. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-esther-lampert/there-are-no-believers-in-this-world-there-are-only-the-make/) Sharon Esther Lampert > [“One day the world shall comprise of only two kinds of people-The Believers and The Non-Believers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitesh-kumar-jain/one-day-the-world-shall-comprise-of-only-two-kinds-of-people-the/) Nitesh Kumar Jain > [Most apologetic books are really written for Christians, even the ones that purport to be written for non-believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/most-apologetic-books-are-really-written-for-christians-even-the-ones/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I have never dreamt of contesting the Church her right to remain faithful to herself, meaning to the commandments that come from Doctrine... but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/i-have-never-dreamt-of-contesting-the-church-her-right-to-remain/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [I have one thing to say to those non-believers. Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-tomjanovich/i-have-one-thing-to-say-to-those-non-believers-don-t-ever/) Rudy Tomjanovich > [Non-believers in the greenhouse scenario are in the position of those long ago who doubted the existence of God ... fortunately for them, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-leroux/non-believers-in-the-greenhouse-scenario-are-in-the-position-of-those/) Marcel Leroux > [Show me a god that does not demand mortal suffering. Show me a god that celebrates diversity, a celebration that embraces even non-believers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/show-me-a-god-that-does-not-demand-mortal-suffering-show-me-a-god/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Democratic societies can no longer give religious fanatics a free hand to abuse and murder non believers. Such action betrays contempt for the basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armstrong-williams/democratic-societies-can-no-longer-give-religious-fanatics-a-free/) [Armstrong Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armstrong-williams/) > [there are the non-believers, make believers and true believers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-souljah/there-are-the-non-believers-make-believers-and-true-believers/) [Sister Souljah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sister-souljah/) > [But the lack of faith could just as well be a crutch for non-believers, allowing them to live their lives without any concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/but-the-lack-of-faith-could-just-as-well-be-a-crutch-for-non/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [As an atheist, I think there are lots of things religions get up to which are of value to non-believers - and one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/as-an-atheist-i-think-there-are-lots-of-things-religions-get-up-to/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Believers often forget that most atheists used to be religious, that many non-believers used to think they had a personal relationship with their God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/believers-often-forget-that-most-atheists-used-to-be-religious-that/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [I'm ready to ride, screw the non believers I'm ready to ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/i-m-ready-to-ride-screw-the-non-believers-i-m-ready-to-ride/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [The doubters said, "Man can not fly," The doers said, "Maybe, but we'll try," And finally soared In the morning glow While non-believers Watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-doubters-said-man-can-not-fly-the-doers-said-maybe-but-we-ll-try/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) ## More by Alan Dershowitz > [I am a peace supporting Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-am-a-peace-supporting-jew/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [A criminal trial is never about seeking justice for the victim. If it were, there could be only one verdict: guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/a-criminal-trial-is-never-about-seeking-justice-for-the-victim-if-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [The Second Amendment has no place in modern society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/the-second-amendment-has-no-place-in-modern-society/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Our First Amendment expresses a far different calculus for regulating speech than for regulating nonexpressive conduct and that is as it should be. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/our-first-amendment-expresses-a-far-different-calculus-for-regulating/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think that lawyers are terrible at admitting that they're wrong. And not just admitting it; also realizing it. Most lawyers are very successful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-think-that-lawyers-are-terrible-at-admitting-that-they-re-wrong-and/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Asymmetrical warfare is a euphemism for terrorism, just like collateral damage is a euphemism for killing innocent civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/asymmetrical-warfare-is-a-euphemism-for-terrorism-just-like/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I never had an existential moment when I asked myself what I was going to do. I always wanted to be a lawyer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-never-had-an-existential-moment-when-i-asked-myself-what-i-was/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [The Internet knows no national borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/the-internet-knows-no-national-borders/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [It's a new phenomenon in America that states can now sue the national government and become a kind of check and balance on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/it-s-a-new-phenomenon-in-america-that-states-can-now-sue-the-national/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [When it comes to partisan politics, everyone is a hypocrite. And all they care about is whether it hurts or helps them ... Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/when-it-comes-to-partisan-politics-everyone-is-a-hypocrite-and-all/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Everybody says they're opposed to torture. But everyone would do it personally if they knew it could save the life of a kidnapped child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/everybody-says-they-re-opposed-to-torture-but-everyone-would-do-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think mistakes are the essence of science and law. It's impossible to conceive of either scientific progress or legal progress without understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-think-mistakes-are-the-essence-of-science-and-law-it-s-impossible/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I never place limits on the potential success of my students. If they're going into acting, they're going to win the Oscar... If they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-never-place-limits-on-the-potential-success-of-my-students-if-they/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) [Explore all 177 Alan Dershowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yes, believers and non-believers and skeptics can all live together and get along. But there cannot be an imperialistic imposition of religion by the state or by the church. All people must be equal--believers, skeptics, disbelievers, atheists, and those who chose religion. 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