Christian religion Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““If it did not exceed the capacity of human nature to foretell future events, it would be absurd to employ any prophecy as an argument for a divine mission or authority from heaven. So that, upon the whole, we may conclude, that the Christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one. Mere reason is insufficient to convince us of its veracity: And whoever is moved by faith to assent to it, is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person, which subverts all the principles of his understanding, and gives him a determination to believe what is most contrary to custom and experience.””
About This Quote
The argument claims that prophecy cannot be a rational basis for religious authority because it exceeds human capacity to predict, making faith a personal miracle that opposes reason and experience.
In simple terms: Prophecy is irrational; faith is a personal miracle against reason.
Key Takeaway
Question the rational basis of religious claims.
Themes
faith
reason
skepticism
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- debates on religion
- personal belief
- public policy
Key Concepts
epistemology
miracle
authority
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does personal experience play in belief?
- Can faith and reason coexist?
A Different Perspective
Faith can provide comfort despite lacking empirical proof.
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