Action Quote by Christopher Hitchens
![“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab6/christopher-hitchens-117_action_religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integ_23299.jpg)
“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a divine punishment or the hope of a divine reward. It strips us of the right to make our own determination, as all humans always have, about what is and what is not a right human action.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that religion undermines personal moral autonomy by imposing divine authority as the source of ethical judgment, thereby eroding self‑respect and the capacity for independent moral reasoning.
In simple terms: Religion limits moral self‑determination.
Key Takeaway
Moral autonomy is compromised by divine authority.
Themes
Moral autonomy
Religion vs. secular ethics
Individual responsibility
Ethical relativism
Authority and freedom
Mood
Defiant
Critical
Skeptical
Type
Philosophical
Critical essay
When to use this quote
- Debates on secularism
- Ethics education
- Personal moral dilemmas
- Policy discussions on religious influence
Key Concepts
Divine authority
Self‑respect
Moral judgment
Practical Applications
- Developing secular ethical frameworks
- Encouraging critical thinking about moral sources
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reliance on external authority affect personal integrity?
- Can moral standards be universally justified without religion?
![“It's [Los Angeles] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them aren't even young and beautiful now.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a86/christopher-hitchens-117_beautiful_it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense_10462.jpg)
