--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature…" description: "\"“Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature, unchangeable. The same can be said in regard to the spirit of the law. Law was and is to protect the past an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg" --- # Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature, unchangeable… ![“Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature, unchangeable. The same can be said in regard to the spirit of the law. Law was and is to protect the past and present status of society and, by its very essence, must be very conservative, if not reactionary. Theology and law are both of them static by…” quote by Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg) > ““Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature, unchangeable. The same can be said in regard to the spirit of the law. Law was and is to protect the past and present status of society and, by its very essence, must be very conservative, if not reactionary. Theology and law are both of them static by their nature. Philosophy, law and ethics, to be effective in a dynamic world must be dynamic; they must be made vital enough to keep pace with the progress of life and science. In recent civilization ethics, because controlled by theology and law, which are static, could not duly influence the dynamic, revolutionary progress of technic and the steadily changing conditions of life; and so we witness a tremendous downfall of morals in politics and business. Life progresses faster than our ideas, and so medieval ideas, methods and judgments are constantly applied to the conditions and problems of modern life. This discrepancy between facts and ideas is greatly responsible for the dividing of modern society into different warring classes, which do not understand each other. Medieval legalism and medieval morals- the basis of the old social structure-being by their nature conservative, reactionary, opposed to change, and thus becoming more and more unable to support the mighty social burden of the modern world, must be adjudged responsible in a large measure for the circumstances which made the World War inevitable.”” [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that theology and law are inherently unchanging, which hampers ethical and societal progress, leading to moral decline and conflict. **In simple terms:** Fixed doctrines block adaptation, causing social strife. Key Takeaway Encourage dynamic, adaptable frameworks. Themes law theology ethics social change modernity Mood critical reflective concerned Type philosophical political social commentary When to use this quote - policy reform - legal education - ethical curricula - public discourse - technological governance Key Concepts conservatism reactionary progressivism philosophical adaptability technological impact Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can make law more responsive? - How to preserve core values while adapting? A Different Perspective Change can be destabilizing and meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-life/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Discrepancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrepancy/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Modern life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-life/) [Modern society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-society/) [Modern world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-world/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Past and present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-and-present/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) ## Related quotes > [I might not like a statute... but if you know what to expect, you can plan. The law is static. It's stable. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-might-not-like-a-statute-but-if-you-know-what-to-expect-you-can/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Mythology is not religion. It may rather be regarded as the ancient substitute, the poetical counterpart, for dogmatic theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/mythology-is-not-religion-it-may-rather-be-regarded-as-the-ancient/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [The spirit of dogmatic theology poisons anything it touches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-spirit-of-dogmatic-theology-poisons-anything-it-touches/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [No, I think that we've got a basic discrepancy here between the rule of law versus the rule of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/no-i-think-that-we-ve-got-a-basic-discrepancy-here-between-the-rule/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [There's a discrepancy between what you think you are and what other people think you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lacy/there-s-a-discrepancy-between-what-you-think-you-are-and-what-other/) Jake Lacy > [“he justified the discrepancy by saying that the coworker was married with children to support,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-berlin/he-justified-the-discrepancy-by-saying-that-the-coworker-was-married/) [Leslie Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-berlin/) > [“It is an unthinkable discrepancy that fifty-four men should consume the food intended for fifty-three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/it-is-an-unthinkable-discrepancy-that-fifty-four-men-should-consume/) [Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/) > [What a great discrepancy there is between men and the results they achieve! It is due to the difference in their power of calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/what-a-great-discrepancy-there-is-between-men-and-the-results-they/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“One's instinct is at first to try and get rid of a discrepancy, but I believe that experience shows such an endeavour to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-strutt/one-s-instinct-is-at-first-to-try-and-get-rid-of-a-discrepancy-but-i/) [John William Strutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-strutt/) > [Discrepancy between theory and practice, which in sound physical and mechanical science is a delusion, has a real existence in the minds of men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/discrepancy-between-theory-and-practice-which-in-sound-physical-and/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [The discrepancy or contradiction is the entire story. And being the entire story, it by itself discredits the entire twenty-six volumes of the Warren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-bugliosi/the-discrepancy-or-contradiction-is-the-entire-story-and-being-the/) [Vincent Bugliosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-bugliosi/) > [“A lie is a discrepancy of belief, not fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/a-lie-is-a-discrepancy-of-belief-not-fact/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [ Accounting incomes were reduced by discrepancy \[ but\] "the net amount paid by lawyers for lawyerly discrepancy is close to zippo. In this case,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/accounting-incomes-were-reduced-by-discrepancy-but-the-net-amount/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“A moment ago you were a smart, independent individual and now you claim to be a silly, ignorant pawn. You cannot be both. Make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-h-o-neil/a-moment-ago-you-were-a-smart-independent-individual-and-now-you/) [Vincent H. O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-h-o-neil/) > [The discrepancy between what actually happened and the version of what happened provided by sources is an enormous gray area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/the-discrepancy-between-what-actually-happened-and-the-version-of/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) ## More by Alfred Korzybski > [The objective level is not words, and cannot be reached by words alone. We must point our finger and be silent, or we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/the-objective-level-is-not-words-and-cannot-be-reached-by-words-alone/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [God may forgive your sins, but your nervous system won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/god-may-forgive-your-sins-but-your-nervous-system-won-t/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“We humans, through old habits, and because of the inherent structure of human knowledge have a tendency to make static, definite, and, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/we-humans-through-old-habits-and-because-of-the-inherent-structure-of/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Whatever you say it is, it isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/whatever-you-say-it-is-it-isn-t/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Let us repeat the two crucial negative premises as established firmly by all human experience: (1) Words are not the things we are speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/let-us-repeat-the-two-crucial-negative-premises-as-established-firmly/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [To regard human beings as tools - as instruments - for the use of other human beings is not only unscientific but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/to-regard-human-beings-as-tools-as-instruments-for-the-use-of-other/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [I am the same kind of moron as the rest of you, it's the method that does the work, for me as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/i-am-the-same-kind-of-moron-as-the-rest-of-you-it-s-the-method-that/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Who rules our symbols, rules us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/who-rules-our-symbols-rules-us/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Whatever you may say something is, it is not!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/whatever-you-may-say-something-is-it-is-not/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Second order effects, such as belief in belief, makes fanaticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/second-order-effects-such-as-belief-in-belief-makes-fanaticism/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“Definitions create conditions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/definitions-create-conditions/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Mathematics and logic have been proved to be one; a fact from which it seems to follow that mathematics may successfully deal with non-quantitative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/mathematics-and-logic-have-been-proved-to-be-one-a-fact-from-which-it/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [There are two ways to slice easily thorugh life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/there-are-two-ways-to-slice-easily-thorugh-life-to-believe-everything/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“Philosophy, as defined by Fichte, is the "science of sciences." Its aim was to solve the problems of the world. In the past, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/philosophy-as-defined-by-fichte-is-the-science-of-sciences-its-aim/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“There are two ways to slide easily through life: Namely, to believe everything, or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/there-are-two-ways-to-slide-easily-through-life-namely-to-believe/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) [Explore all 82 Alfred Korzybski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) ## More Business life quotes > [All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/all-animals-except-man-know-that-the-principal-business-of-life-is-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The business is my life, the ring my salvation, the locker room and roads my nourishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-rhodes/the-business-is-my-life-the-ring-my-salvation-the-locker-room-and/) [Dusty Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-rhodes/) > [The secret to success in business, and in life, is to serve others. Put others frst in all you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varsha-sharma/the-secret-to-success-in-business-and-in-life-is-to-serve-others-put/) [Varsha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varsha-sharma/) > [The fact of the matter is that I've enjoyed the competition in life and the business of life; I've enjoyed all that goes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-schreyer/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-i-ve-enjoyed-the-competition-in-life/) [William Schreyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-schreyer/) > [You have to find ways of integrating what you like into your business life. 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In recent civilization ethics, because controlled by theology and law, which are static, could not duly influence the dynamic, revolutionary progress of technic and the steadily changing conditions of life; and so we witness a tremendous downfall of morals in politics and business. Life progresses faster than our ideas, and so medieval ideas, methods and judgments are constantly applied to the conditions and problems of modern life. This discrepancy between facts and ideas is greatly responsible for the dividing of modern society into different warring classes, which do not understand each other. Medieval legalism and medieval morals- the basis of the old social structure-being by their nature conservative, reactionary, opposed to change, and thus becoming more and more unable to support the mighty social burden of the modern world, must be adjudged responsible in a large measure for the circumstances which made the World War inevitable.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Korzybski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature-unchangeable-the-same-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature-unchangeable-the-same-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/alfred-korzybski-8234_business-life_dogmatic-theology-is-by-its-very-nature_2537555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dogmatic theology is, by its very nature, unchangeable. 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