--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not think that the real reason why…" description: "\"I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion has anything to do with argumentation. They accept religion on emotional grounds.\" — Ber..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg" --- # I do not think that the real reason why people accept… ![“I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion has anything to do with argumentation. They accept religion on emotional grounds.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg) > “I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion has anything to do with argumentation. They accept religion on emotional grounds.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion is often adopted for emotional comfort rather than logical argument. **In simple terms:** People choose faith for feelings. Key Takeaway Recognize emotional motives in belief. Themes religion emotion reason Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - personal crisis - seeking meaning - community belonging Key Concepts psychology faith formation Questions to Reflect On - What emotional needs does religion fulfill for you? - Can faith be reconciled with rational inquiry? A Different Perspective Emotions can blind critical assessment of truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-religion-702055/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Argumentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argumentation/) [Argumentation Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argumentation-accept-1816567/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Argumentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-argumentation-1816566/) [Religion Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-emotional-1816568/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Where life is colorful and varied, religion can be austere or unimportant. Where life is appallingly monotonous, religion must be emotional, dramatic and intense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/where-life-is-colorful-and-varied-religion-can-be-austere-or/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [I can understand your aversion to the use of the term 'religion' to describe an emotional and psychological attitude which shows itself most clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-can-understand-your-aversion-to-the-use-of-the-term-religion-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-a-religion-that-believes-in-freedom-any-time-i-have-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things. You don't necessarily even have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/people-who-have-a-religion-should-be-glad-for-not-everyone-has-the-2/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [“Religion waited for man to evolve. It waited an eternity like a desolate lover awaiting its unborn soulmate. When man was able to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-anderson/religion-waited-for-man-to-evolve-it-waited-an-eternity-like-a/) [C.J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-anderson/) > [If any religion allows the persecution of the people of different faiths, if any religion keeps women in slavery, if any religion keeps people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taslima-nasrin/if-any-religion-allows-the-persecution-of-the-people-of-different/) [Taslima Nasrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taslima-nasrin/) > [“No religion can fully accept another religion, that’s the one belief all religions share”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/no-religion-can-fully-accept-another-religion-that-s-the-one-belief/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [I'd be more willing to accept religion, even if I didn't believe it, if I thought it made people nicer to each other but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-d-be-more-willing-to-accept-religion-even-if-i-didn-t-believe-it-if/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [“If science can’t accept that religion might be more than fairytales and magic tricks, well, that’s its own shortcoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-platt/if-science-can-t-accept-that-religion-might-be-more-than-fairytales/) [Sean Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-platt/) > [As far as the matters of religion are concerned we know for sure that only Islam is the true religion in the eyes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakir-naik/as-far-as-the-matters-of-religion-are-concerned-we-know-for-sure-that/) [Zakir Naik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakir-naik/) > [We do not accept a religion because it offers us certain rewards. The only thing that a religion can offer us is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/we-do-not-accept-a-religion-because-it-offers-us-certain-rewards-the/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [Al-Ghazali is the most important philosophical theologian of classical Islam, and Moderation in Belief is among his most important works. It sets out al-Ghazali's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-adamson/al-ghazali-is-the-most-important-philosophical-theologian-of/) [Peter Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-adamson/) > [“Aus, vorbei. Meine fein ausgeklügelte Argumentation, die aus Ich will nicht besteht, fällt in sich zusammen. Also doch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aus-vorbei-meine-fein-ausgekl-gelte-argumentation-die-aus-ich-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ They \[human beings\] are unwilling to gamble that God made those people who are skilled at rational argumentation uniquely virtuous. They protect themselves and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-march/they-human-beings-are-unwilling-to-gamble-that-god-made-those-people/) [James G. March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-march/) > [“An objection which applies to all conduct can be no valid objection to any conduct in particular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/an-objection-which-applies-to-all-conduct-can-be-no-valid-objection/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [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/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-maintained-that-women-have-fewer-teeth-than-men-although-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes-you-angry-that-is-a-sign/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More Accepting 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/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion has anything to do with argumentation. They accept religion on emotional grounds.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why-people-accept-religion-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why-people-accept-religion-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why_1775484.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion has anything to do with argumentation. They…” — Bertrand Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bertrand Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do not think that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why-people-accept-religion-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-do-not-think-that-the-real-reason-why-people-accept-religion-has/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```