Buddhism Quote by Brian Herbert
““Religion is the emulation of the adult by the child. Religion is the encystment of past beliefs: mythology, which is guesswork, the hidden assumptions of trust in the universe, those pronouncements which men have made in search of personal power . . . all mingled with shreds of enlightenment. And always the ultimate unspoken commandment is "Thou shalt not question!" But we do anyway. We break that commandment as a matter of course. The work to which we have set ourselves is the liberating of the imagination, the harnessing of imagination to humankind's deepest sense of creativity.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Science of Fiction, Podcast, 2021
Religion is portrayed as a child‑like imitation of adult authority, a blend of myth, power, and suppressed questioning, yet imagination can free us.
In simple terms: Religion mixes myth and power, but imagination frees us.
Cultivate questioning imagination.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- artistic creation
- spiritual exploration
- social reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does questioning play in your faith?
- How can imagination reshape belief systems?
Some find comfort in unquestioned belief.