Child abuse Quote by Carl Sagan
““Christianity may be good and Satanism evil. Under the Constitution, however, both are neutral. This is an important, but difficult, concept for many law enforcement officers to accept. They are paid to uphold the penal code, not the Ten Commandments … The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of God, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan. Many people don’t like that statement, but few can argue with it.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Religion and Law Enforcement, 1990s
The quote argues that the Constitution treats all religions equally, and that religious zeal can lead to more harm than secular evil.
In simple terms: All religions are neutral under law; zealotry causes harm.
Key Takeaway
Recognize legal neutrality and guard against extremist actions.
Themes
law
religion
neutrality
extremism
crime
Mood
thoughtful
critical
analytical
Type
statement
commentary
When to use this quote
- police training
- public policy
- community outreach
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
separation of church and state
ethical responsibility
social impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How can law enforcement balance neutrality with cultural sensitivity?
- What safeguards prevent misuse of religious authority?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks positive contributions of faith communities and may overgeneralize.
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
