--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was raised thinking that moral and…" description: "\"I was raised thinking that moral and ethical standards are universals that apply equally to everyone. And these values aren't easily compatible with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/charles-stross-896_agony_i-was-raised-thinking-that-moral-and-eth_73652.jpg" --- # I was raised thinking that moral and ethical standards are… ![“I was raised thinking that moral and ethical standards are universals that apply equally to everyone. And these values aren't easily compatible with the kind of religion that posits a Creator. To my way of thinking, an omnipotent being who sets up a universe in which thinking beings proliferate…” quote by Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/charles-stross-896_agony_i-was-raised-thinking-that-moral-and-eth_73652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/charles-stross-896_agony_i-was-raised-thinking-that-moral-and-eth_73652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/charles-stross-896_agony_i-was-raised-thinking-that-moral-and-eth_73652.jpg) > “I was raised thinking that moral and ethical standards are universals that apply equally to everyone. And these values aren't easily compatible with the kind of religion that posits a Creator. To my way of thinking, an omnipotent being who sets up a universe in which thinking beings proliferate, grow old, and die (usually in agony, alone, and in fear) is a cosmic sadist.” [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that universal moral standards conflict with a belief in an omnipotent creator who allows suffering, viewing such a deity as responsible for cosmic cruelty. **In simple terms:** Moral universals vs. theistic suffering Key Takeaway Questioning the compatibility of ethics and a benevolent deity Themes philosophy theology ethics existentialism suffering Mood skeptical reflective critical Type philosophical critical personal When to use this quote - debates on religion and ethics - personal belief formation - academic discussions on the problem of evil - interfaith dialogues - secular moral frameworks Key Concepts moral relativism theodicy cosmic suffering authoritarianism Practical Applications - critical essays on religion - philosophical counseling Questions to Reflect On - Does universal morality require a non-theistic foundation? - How does suffering shape our ethical frameworks? A Different Perspective Some argue that free will justifies suffering, not cosmic sadism ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cosmic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmic/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical/) [Grow Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-old/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-ethical-959700/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raised/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-moral-959699/) [Thinking Omnipotent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-omnipotent-959701/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Listen to his dangerous and inclusionary thinking: “My Father's sun shines on the good and the bad, his rain falls on the just and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/listen-to-his-dangerous-and-inclusionary-thinking-my-father-s-sun/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [We've come a long way in our thinking, but also in our moral decay. I can't imagine Dr. King watching the 'Real Housewives' or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/we-ve-come-a-long-way-in-our-thinking-but-also-in-our-moral-decay-i/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Just because something happens to be legal does not make it moral, ethical or right. Abortion is perhaps one of the most dramatic examples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-barry/just-because-something-happens-to-be-legal-does-not-make-it-moral/) [Al Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-barry/) > [The best we can do is strive to minimize the amount of harm we cause by living. We need to eat in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/the-best-we-can-do-is-strive-to-minimize-the-amount-of-harm-we-cause/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [As Plato insisted two thousand years ago, it is not by means of the image that moral, ethical, or political knowledge is produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-solomon-godeau/as-plato-insisted-two-thousand-years-ago-it-is-not-by-means-of-the/) [Abigail Solomon-Godeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-solomon-godeau/) > [If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/if-you-don-t-have-integrity-you-have-nothing-you-can-t-buy-it-you-can/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [The whole body of what is now called moral or ethical truth existed in the golden age as abstract science. Or, if we prefer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-whole-body-of-what-is-now-called-moral-or-ethical-truth-existed/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Integrity, a firm adherence to the highest moral and ethical standards, is essential to the life of a true Latter-day Saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/integrity-a-firm-adherence-to-the-highest-moral-and-ethical-standards/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [For thousands of years art was seen as a source of responsible moral and ethical leadership. Today, taking that stance is almost seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-beal/for-thousands-of-years-art-was-seen-as-a-source-of-responsible-moral/) [Jack Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-beal/) > [“Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-moran/adherence-to-moral-and-ethical-principles-soundness-of-moral/) [Doug Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-moran/) > [I have always written about subjects that engage me - questions I can't answer myself. They apparently tend to be big moral and ethical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-have-always-written-about-subjects-that-engage-me-questions-i-can-t/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“You may never know what type of person someone is unless they are given opportunities to violate moral or ethical codes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/you-may-never-know-what-type-of-person-someone-is-unless-they-are/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [The questions to ask are what is moral, what is ethical, what is in line with your belief system, and what seems to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/the-questions-to-ask-are-what-is-moral-what-is-ethical-what-is-in/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [The conscience...is not infallible. Nor is it a source of revelation about right and wrong. Its role is not to teach you moral and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-conscience-is-not-infallible-nor-is-it-a-source-of-revelation/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) ## More by Charles Stross > [We are Bay Aryans from Berkeley: prepare to be reengineered in an attractive range of color schemes for your safety and comfort!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/we-are-bay-aryans-from-berkeley-prepare-to-be-reengineered-in-an/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Shut up. Stand up. Put this on. That’s right . . . if you were the kind of man who found it easy to do that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/shut-up-stand-up-put-this-on-that-s-right-if-you-were-the-kind-of-man/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Generating ideas isn't some mystical talent that you have to be born with: it's a skill you can develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/generating-ideas-isn-t-some-mystical-talent-that-you-have-to-be-born/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Any replacement to the current copyright position (life plus 70 years) needs to have an answer lined up for this, and similar, messy edge cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/any-replacement-to-the-current-copyright-position-life-plus-70-years/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Time is a corrosive fluid, dissolving motivation, destroying novelty, and leaching the joy from life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/time-is-a-corrosive-fluid-dissolving-motivation-destroying-novelty/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“- Toma un puro, Sherlock. - Lo siento; sólo echo humo cuando me enchufan a la red eléctrica.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/toma-un-puro-sherlock-lo-siento-s-lo-echo-humo-cuando-me-enchufan-a/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I have no policy, for or against: only a personal style. Which is to say, I use them when I think it's appropriate to;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-have-no-policy-for-or-against-only-a-personal-style-which-is-to-say/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“To boldly go where no uploaded metahuman colony has gone before”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/to-boldly-go-where-no-uploaded-metahuman-colony-has-gone-before/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I don't like Amazon (wearing my author hat, not my customer hat).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-don-t-like-amazon-wearing-my-author-hat-not-my-customer-hat/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Some say the Internet is for porn but you know that in truth the Internet is for spam.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/some-say-the-internet-is-for-porn-but-you-know-that-in-truth-the/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [If I forget, then it might as well never have happened. Memory is liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-i-forget-then-it-might-as-well-never-have-happened-memory-is/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“If he wakes the ancient sleeping horrors I am going to have to brief the private secretary and the Joint Intelligence Oversight Committee so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-he-wakes-the-ancient-sleeping-horrors-i-am-going-to-have-to-brief/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Crawling eldritch horrors don’t get planning permission unless they’re Trump’s hairpiece.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/crawling-eldritch-horrors-don-t-get-planning-permission-unless-they/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“A historian who works for a bank: That’s not the most likely background for someone who capers around the cosmos having adventures, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/a-historian-who-works-for-a-bank-that-s-not-the-most-likely/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“MONDAY DAWNS BRIGHT AND HOT AND EARLY, AND I FIND MY SELF waking to the happy knowledge that I can go back to work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/monday-dawns-bright-and-hot-and-early-and-i-find-my-self-waking-to/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) [Explore all 331 Charles Stross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) ## More Agony quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love masters agony; the soul that seemed Forsaken feels her present God again And in her Father's arms Contented dies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keble/love-masters-agony-the-soul-that-seemed-forsaken-feels-her-present/) [John Keble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keble/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Being ill like this combines shock - this time I will die - with a pain and agony that are unfamiliar, that wrench me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/being-ill-like-this-combines-shock-this-time-i-will-die-with-a-pain/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 813 Agony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was raised thinking that moral and ethical standards are universals that apply equally to everyone. And these values aren't easily compatible with the kind of religion that posits a Creator. 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