--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion is, after all, more than the…" description: "\"“Religion is, after all, more than the belief in a supreme being. It is the cult of that supreme being and the belief that his or her wishes have been ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/christopher-hitchens-117_belief_religion-is-after-all-more-than-the-beli_446568.jpg" --- # Religion is, after all, more than the belief in a supreme… ![“Religion is, after all, more than the belief in a supreme being. It is the cult of that supreme being and the belief that his or her wishes have been made known or can be determined.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/christopher-hitchens-117_belief_religion-is-after-all-more-than-the-beli_446568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/christopher-hitchens-117_belief_religion-is-after-all-more-than-the-beli_446568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/christopher-hitchens-117_belief_religion-is-after-all-more-than-the-beli_446568.jpg) > ““Religion is, after all, more than the belief in a supreme being. It is the cult of that supreme being and the belief that his or her wishes have been made known or can be determined.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion extends beyond belief, becoming a system that claims to know divine will, limiting human autonomy. **In simple terms:** Religion claims to know divine wishes, restricting freedom. Key Takeaway Question authority that claims absolute knowledge. Themes religion authority autonomy Mood critical analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - public discourse - education - policy debate - personal belief Key Concepts philosophy theology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Do you see religion as oppressive or supportive? - How can societies balance belief and freedom? A Different Perspective May overlook positive community aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-supreme-2885591/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-belief-283598/) [Supreme Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-belief-1420608/) [Supreme Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-cult-1629258/) ## Related quotes > [“The Supreme cult does not bear any relationship with the ordinary course of life. The physical body, after attainment of the Supreme Cult will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jibankrishna/the-supreme-cult-does-not-bear-any-relationship-with-the-ordinary/) [Jibankrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jibankrishna/) > [“The Supreme Cult never leaves a man. It never gets destroyed or evaporated. It is God’s grace and it is sure to bear fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-jibankrishna-or-diamond/the-supreme-cult-never-leaves-a-man-it-never-gets-destroyed-or/) [Sri Jibankrishna or Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-jibankrishna-or-diamond/) > [My great religion is a belief inthe blood, the flesh, as being wiser than the intellect. We can go wrong in our minds. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-great-religion-is-a-belief-inthe-blood-the-flesh-as-being-wiser/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're not free until you've been made captive by supreme belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/you-re-not-free-until-you-ve-been-made-captive-by-supreme-belief/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [“I f the ‘supreme belief ’ remains unknown, believing is fruitless. If ‘The Truth’ has not yet been ascertained, the study of knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/i-f-the-supreme-belief-remains-unknown-believing-is-fruitless-if-the/) [Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/) > [The act of saying that things exist that cannot be described in words shakes a universe where words are the supreme belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-act-of-saying-that-things-exist-that-cannot-be-described-in-words/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Religion is not the belief there is a god. Religion is the belief god tells you what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-is-not-the-belief-there-is-a-god-religion-is-the-belief-god/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Arguments for atheism can be divided into two main categories: those that dispute the existence of god and those that demonstrate the ill effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/arguments-for-atheism-can-be-divided-into-two-main-categories-those/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I believe a man is better anchored who has a belief in the Supreme Being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-believe-a-man-is-better-anchored-who-has-a-belief-in-the-supreme/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [“Faith goes hand in hand with the belief in a supreme purpose that includes everybody, a purpose that is for mankind’s ultimate peace, harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/faith-goes-hand-in-hand-with-the-belief-in-a-supreme-purpose-that/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [The core of all religions is a belief in a supreme personal god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-tipler/the-core-of-all-religions-is-a-belief-in-a-supreme-personal-god/) [Frank Tipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-tipler/) > [Science herself consults her heart when she lays it down that the infinite ascertainment of fact and correction of false belief are the supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/science-herself-consults-her-heart-when-she-lays-it-down-that-the/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“My great religion is a belief in the blood, the flesh, as being wiser than the intellect. We can go wrong in our minds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-herbert-lawrence/my-great-religion-is-a-belief-in-the-blood-the-flesh-as-being-wiser/) [David Herbert Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-lawrence/) > [Religion is a belief in invisible beings, inaudible voices, intangible entities, undetectable forces, and events and judgments that happen after we die. It therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-christina/religion-is-a-belief-in-invisible-beings-inaudible-voices-intangible/) [Greta Christina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-christina/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. 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Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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