--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Serious beliefs are awkward, especially…" description: "\"Serious beliefs are awkward, especially religious ones. It's not that there's anything wrong with them, it's just that people's real, heart-felt, deepl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/alexandra-petri-5715_easy_serious-beliefs-are-awkward-especially-r_1924364.jpg" --- # Serious beliefs are awkward, especially religious ones… ![“Serious beliefs are awkward, especially religious ones. It's not that there's anything wrong with them, it's just that people's real, heart-felt, deeply held beliefs are, well, 'not easy to handle or deal with, requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care' - in a word, awkward.” quote by Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/alexandra-petri-5715_easy_serious-beliefs-are-awkward-especially-r_1924364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/alexandra-petri-5715_easy_serious-beliefs-are-awkward-especially-r_1924364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/alexandra-petri-5715_easy_serious-beliefs-are-awkward-especially-r_1924364.jpg) > “Serious beliefs are awkward, especially religious ones. It's not that there's anything wrong with them, it's just that people's real, heart-felt, deeply held beliefs are, well, 'not easy to handle or deal with, requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care' - in a word, awkward.” [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awkwardness arises when deeply held beliefs are hard to manage, needing skill and care. **In simple terms:** Deep beliefs can be hard to handle. Key Takeaway Approach sensitive beliefs with empathy and skill. Themes beliefs awkwardness empathy Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - family discussions - interfaith dialogue - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle belief that feel awkward? - What skills help in such situations? A Different Perspective Awkwardness may cause conflict if not navigated carefully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Beliefs Awkward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-awkward-2974941/) [Beliefs Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-easy-2974943/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Especially Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-religious-2974942/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Held Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-beliefs-246223/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) ## Related quotes > [“Seldom do we embrace a new idea, especially one of a religious nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-of-kittim/seldom-do-we-embrace-a-new-idea-especially-one-of-a-religious-nature/) [Eli Of Kittim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-of-kittim/) > [I just want people to hold themselves to account about what they think more, because I strongly believe that the way to live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-just-want-people-to-hold-themselves-to-account-about-what-they/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [“myth” in this strict sense is a story that purports to be in some sense “historical” and that encapsulates and reinforces the strongly held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/myth-in-this-strict-sense-is-a-story-that-purports-to-be-in-some/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Strong convictions do not necessarily signal a powerful sense of self: very often quite the opposite. Intensely held beliefs may be no more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/strong-convictions-do-not-necessarily-signal-a-powerful-sense-of-self/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [It is in the home that we form our attitudes, our deeply held beliefs. It is in the home that hope is fostered or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/it-is-in-the-home-that-we-form-our-attitudes-our-deeply-held-beliefs/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [People have a lot of different beliefs, and at the end of the day, we all have deeply held beliefs that probably don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/people-have-a-lot-of-different-beliefs-and-at-the-end-of-the-day-we/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [Generally, people don't change their minds about fundamentally deeply held beliefs; it doesn't happen in an instant - it's a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/generally-people-don-t-change-their-minds-about-fundamentally-deeply/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [“even compelling causal statistics will not change long-held beliefs or beliefs rooted in personal experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/even-compelling-causal-statistics-will-not-change-long-held-beliefs/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“Myths are compost. They begin as religions, the most deeply held of beliefs, or as the stories that accrete to religions as they grow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/myths-are-compost-they-begin-as-religions-the-most-deeply-held-of/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [But there's no reason why we should abdicate our foundational principles because certain groups don't believe in them. You know, no majority should surrender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/but-there-s-no-reason-why-we-should-abdicate-our-foundational/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [His mother and father were agnostics, and Jim respected devout Christians in the same way that he respected people who were members of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/his-mother-and-father-were-agnostics-and-jim-respected-devout/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the truth contradicts deeply held beliefs, that is too bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-eysenck/if-the-truth-contradicts-deeply-held-beliefs-that-is-too-bad/) [Hans Eysenck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-eysenck/) > [There were certainly some people who wanted me to do a feel-good story that affirmed a lot of very commonly held beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/there-were-certainly-some-people-who-wanted-me-to-do-a-feel-good/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [“Your life is your statement to the world representing your values, your beliefs, your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arenson/your-life-is-your-statement-to-the-world-representing-your-values/) [David Arenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-arenson/) > [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/) [Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/) ## More by Alexandra Petri > [They will wrest 'dull words' from my cold dead hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/they-will-wrest-dull-words-from-my-cold-dead-hands/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Standup comedy was my weird hobby. I would drag my poor parents out to the only open mics that were in coffee shops instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/standup-comedy-was-my-weird-hobby-i-would-drag-my-poor-parents-out-to/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [You can be brilliant in some ways and despicable in others. You can be a clean, upright, moral individual in your private life who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/you-can-be-brilliant-in-some-ways-and-despicable-in-others-you-can-be/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Almost nothing anyone told me about Harvard has been accurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/almost-nothing-anyone-told-me-about-harvard-has-been-accurate/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Success is like food caught in your teeth: much more noticeable when it happens to other people. If it happens to you, other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/success-is-like-food-caught-in-your-teeth-much-more-noticeable-when/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [I majored in extracurriculars, honestly. I joined the Harvard Stand Up Comedy Society, which is a ragtag band of misfits. I wrote for 'On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/i-majored-in-extracurriculars-honestly-i-joined-the-harvard-stand-up/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Dull words are what make many bright sentences shine. They do not call attention to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/dull-words-are-what-make-many-bright-sentences-shine-they-do-not-call/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Bills ought to be passed with deliberation by committees. Change should be achieved in a bipartisan manner. Incrementally, day by day, we should reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/bills-ought-to-be-passed-with-deliberation-by-committees-change/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Although no one explicitly wants a president who could have a reliable fall back career in stand-up comedy, everyone shudders at the thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/although-no-one-explicitly-wants-a-president-who-could-have-a/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [George Washington didn't have to make us laugh; he just had to establish precedents and avoid chopping down more cherry trees than he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/george-washington-didn-t-have-to-make-us-laugh-he-just-had-to/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [At Harvard, people like to impart the idea that you are a mover and shaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/at-harvard-people-like-to-impart-the-idea-that-you-are-a-mover-and/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [It's easier to find the joke in something when you think, 'This - this is ridiculous.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/it-s-easier-to-find-the-joke-in-something-when-you-think-this-this-is/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [The desire for attention has become a primal need along the lines of food, water, and clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/the-desire-for-attention-has-become-a-primal-need-along-the-lines-of/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [The biggest way to be productive is if you're procrastinating on another more important project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/the-biggest-way-to-be-productive-is-if-you-re-procrastinating-on/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [As long as cantankerous old people have existed, they have complained that kids nowadays don't seem to know anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/as-long-as-cantankerous-old-people-have-existed-they-have-complained/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) [Explore all 100 Alexandra Petri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) ## More Beliefs quotes > [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/) [Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/) > [“Your life is your statement to the world representing your values, your beliefs, your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arenson/your-life-is-your-statement-to-the-world-representing-your-values/) [David Arenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-arenson/) > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“My belief is the belief of no beliefs. That's my belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-scott-mcleod/my-belief-is-the-belief-of-no-beliefs-that-s-my-belief/) [T. Scott McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-scott-mcleod/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [There is no power shortage in heaven, and God is never in a recession. But His grace is sufficient to meet every need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-power-shortage-in-heaven-and-god-is-never-in-a-recession/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) [Browse all 1,331 Beliefs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Serious beliefs are awkward, especially religious ones. 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