Affair Quote by Bertrand Russell
“You find this curious fact, that the more intense has been the religion of any period and more profound has been the dogmatic belief, the greater has been the cruelty and the worse has been the state of affairs. In the so called age of faith, when men really did believe the Christian religion in all its completeness, there was the Inquisition, with its tortures; there were millions of unfortunate women burnt as witches; and there was every kind of cruelty practised upon all sorts of people in the name of religion.”
About This Quote
Intense religious fervor and dogmatic belief historically correlate with heightened cruelty and societal dysfunction.
In simple terms: Dogma fuels oppression.
Key Takeaway
Faith without tolerance breeds violence.
Themes
Religion
Dogmatism
Violence
Historical oppression
Human rights
Mood
Reflective
Somber
Type
Historical observation
Philosophical critique
When to use this quote
- Historical analysis of religious institutions
- Debates on freedom of belief
- Education on religious tolerance
Key Concepts
Power dynamics
Ideological rigidity
Social control
Practical Applications
- Policy design for secular governance
- Curriculum development on religious history
Questions to Reflect On
- How does dogma translate into systemic violence?
- Can intense belief coexist with humane societies?
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
