--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The agnostic has a very curious notion of…" description: "\"The agnostic has a very curious notion of religion. He is convinced that a man who says 'I believe in God' should at once become perfect; if this does ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/anonymous-1_adherence_the-agnostic-has-a-very-curious-notion-o_1641989.jpg" --- # The agnostic has a very curious notion of religion. He is… ![“The agnostic has a very curious notion of religion. He is convinced that a man who says 'I believe in God' should at once become perfect; if this does not happen, then the believer must be a fraud and a hypocrite. He thinks that adherence to a religion is the end of the road, whereas it is in fact…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/anonymous-1_adherence_the-agnostic-has-a-very-curious-notion-o_1641989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/anonymous-1_adherence_the-agnostic-has-a-very-curious-notion-o_1641989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/anonymous-1_adherence_the-agnostic-has-a-very-curious-notion-o_1641989.jpg) > “The agnostic has a very curious notion of religion. He is convinced that a man who says 'I believe in God' should at once become perfect; if this does not happen, then the believer must be a fraud and a hypocrite. He thinks that adherence to a religion is the end of the road, whereas it is in fact only the beginning of a very long and sometimes very rough road. He looks for consistency in religious people, however aware he may be of inconsistencies in himself” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques a simplistic view of faith that equates belief with immediate moral perfection, ignoring the complex, ongoing journey of spirituality. **In simple terms:** Belief isn’t instantly perfect; faith is a long, often difficult path. Key Takeaway Recognize faith as a process, not a test. Themes faith hypocrisy consistency spirituality Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal growth - religious dialogue - self‑reflection Key Concepts theology human psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you define genuine faith? - What role does imperfection play in spiritual growth? A Different Perspective The view may overgeneralize agnostics and ignore nuanced belief systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adherence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adherence/) [Adherence Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adherence-religion-576073/) [Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) [Agnostic Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic-curious-576072/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Consistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) [Consistency Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency-religious-576074/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [End of the road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-road/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraud/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Hypocrite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrite/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [I believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in-god/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inconsistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistency/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Notion Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion-religion-576075/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-people/) [Rough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough/) [Rough road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-road/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The Establishment Clause prohibits government from making adherence to a religion relevant in any way to a person's standing in the political community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-establishment-clause-prohibits-government-from-making-adherence/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [I'm tolerant of believers, but I'm agnostic. I'm curious to see how scientists will integrate the near-death experience into their research and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-de-france/i-m-tolerant-of-believers-but-i-m-agnostic-i-m-curious-to-see-how/) [Cecile de France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-de-france/) > [“The notion that religion is a proper field, in which one might claim expertise, is one that should not go unquestioned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-notion-that-religion-is-a-proper-field-in-which-one-might-claim/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Men have been obliged to make for themselves a notion of what religion is, long before the science of religions started its methodical comparisons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-durkheim/men-have-been-obliged-to-make-for-themselves-a-notion-of-what/) [Emile Durkheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-durkheim/) > [The notion that religion can actually be something... attached to progressivism seems so bizarre. But all you have to say is that Abolition wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/the-notion-that-religion-can-actually-be-something-attached-to/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-rough-road-that-leads-to-the-heights-of-greatness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The word itself has another color. It’s not a word with any resonance, although the e was once pronounced. There is only the bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-word-itself-has-another-color-it-s-not-a-word-with-any-resonance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Conservative does not despise government. He despises tyranny. This is precisely why the Conservative reveres the Constitution and insists on adherence to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-conservative-does-not-despise-government-he-despises-tyranny-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are more than 9,000 billing codes for individual procedures and units of care. But there is not a single billing code for patient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-more-than-9-000-billing-codes-for-individual-procedures-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a raindrop, I landed on Depression. My umbrella broke and broke me with it's bones. It hurt but didn't, and it eased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alysha-speer/once-upon-a-raindrop-i-landed-on-depression-my-umbrella-broke-and/) [Alysha Speer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alysha-speer/) > [Three things differentiate living from the soul verses living from the ego only: the ability to sense and learn new ways, the tenacity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/three-things-differentiate-living-from-the-soul-verses-living-from/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Anything is Possible, it's not going to come to you, you have to work to get it, it might be a rough road but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-malaki/anything-is-possible-it-s-not-going-to-come-to-you-you-have-to-work/) [Rabih Malaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-malaki/) > [“The end of friendship is a commerce the most strict and homely that can be joined; more strict than any of which we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-end-of-friendship-is-a-commerce-the-most-strict-and-homely-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Being in-love is not always being happy. Most of the time it's like walking barefooted in a rough road but when you reach your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namae/being-in-love-is-not-always-being-happy-most-of-the-time-it-s-like/) [Namae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namae/) > [I think any girl who comes to Hollywood with sex symbol or bombshell hanging over her has a rough road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/i-think-any-girl-who-comes-to-hollywood-with-sex-symbol-or-bombshell/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Adherence quotes > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Intellectual adherence is never owed to anything whatsoever, for it is never in any degree a voluntary thing. Attention alone is voluntary. It alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/intellectual-adherence-is-never-owed-to-anything-whatsoever-for-it-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“start with a baseline of how often a habit or practice atrophies or breaks down, and then you start stacking up advantages to increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/start-with-a-baseline-of-how-often-a-habit-or-practice-atrophies-or/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [Having been brought up with a definition of faith as adherence to a set of beliefs, I have more and more begun to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/having-been-brought-up-with-a-definition-of-faith-as-adherence-to-a/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [Some communities will be abandoned, others will struggle along, others will split, others will flourish, gain members, and be duplicated elsewhere. Each community must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/some-communities-will-be-abandoned-others-will-struggle-along-others/) [Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/) > [We love your adherence to democratic principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/we-love-your-adherence-to-democratic-principles/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Devotion to the facts will always give the pleasures of recognition; adherence to the rules of design, the pleasures of order and certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/devotion-to-the-facts-will-always-give-the-pleasures-of-recognition/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [It is not our affluence, or our plumbing, or our clogged freeways that grip the imagination of others. Rather, it is the values upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-not-our-affluence-or-our-plumbing-or-our-clogged-freeways-that/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [That the foundation of our national policy should be laid in private morality. If individuals be not influenced by moral principles, it is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/that-the-foundation-of-our-national-policy-should-be-laid-in-private/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [What I mean by the Muse is that unimpeded clearness of the intuitive powers, which a perfectly truthful adherence to every admonition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/what-i-mean-by-the-muse-is-that-unimpeded-clearness-of-the-intuitive/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Prejudice and passion and suspicion are more dangerous than the incitement of self-interest or the most stubborn adherence to real differences of opinion regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/prejudice-and-passion-and-suspicion-are-more-dangerous-than-the/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [If the student truly absorbs the concept of free inquiry in the field of music, unimpeded by blind adherence to doctrine and tradition, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-schuman/if-the-student-truly-absorbs-the-concept-of-free-inquiry-in-the-field/) [William Howard Schuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-schuman/) > [“Adherence is key. Keep it in mind when designing experiments; design experiments you can adhere to.   3.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/adherence-is-key-keep-it-in-mind-when-designing-experiments-design/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ. Were this sentiment generally admitted we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/it-is-time-that-christians-were-judged-more-by-their-likeness-to/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Sustainable change, after all, depends not upon compliance with external mandates or blind adherence to regulation, but rather upon the pursuit of the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/sustainable-change-after-all-depends-not-upon-compliance-with/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) [Browse all 105 Adherence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adherence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The agnostic has a very curious notion of religion. He is convinced that a man who says 'I believe in God' should at once become perfect; if this does not happen, then the believer must be a fraud and a hypocrite. He thinks that adherence to a religion is the end of the road, whereas it is in fact only the beginning of a very long and sometimes very rough road. 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