---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion makes kind people say unkind…"
description: "\"Religion makes kind people say unkind things: \"I must prove my faith, so mutilate the genitals of my children.\" They wouldn't do that if God didn't tel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg"
---

#  Religion makes kind people say unkind things: "I must…

![“Religion makes kind people say unkind things: &quot;I must prove my faith, so mutilate the genitals of my children.&quot; They wouldn't do that if God didn't tell them to do so.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg)

> “Religion makes kind people say unkind things: "I must prove my faith, so mutilate the genitals of my children." They wouldn't do that if God didn't tell them to do so.”

[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.

The quote criticizes how religious belief can be twisted to justify harmful actions, especially against children.

**In simple terms:** Religion can be used to justify cruelty.

Key Takeaway

Question claims that moral harm.

Themes

religion morality violence

Mood

critical concerned

Type

ethical controversial

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- ethical education
- parenting discussions

Key Concepts

extremism dogma child abuse

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies protect children from extremist ideologies?
- What role does critical thinking play in faith?

A Different Perspective

Not all religious individuals act this way; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Kind people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [“Just for the sake of a piece of pie, Some will speak unkind things about others and tell many lies”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde/just-for-the-sake-of-a-piece-of-pie-some-will-speak-unkind-things/)

[Charmaine J Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde/)

> [When you're 0-2 in the Super Bowl, they say unkind things about you. They say, 'He can't win the big one.' And that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/when-you-re-0-2-in-the-super-bowl-they-say-unkind-things-about-you/)

[Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/)

> [In my entire life growing up I've never heard my dad say an unkind word about anyone. My father has always taken the high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-panaro/in-my-entire-life-growing-up-i-ve-never-heard-my-dad-say-an-unkind/)

[Hugh Panaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-panaro/)

> [I don't care how unkind the things people say about me so long as they don't say them to my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/i-don-t-care-how-unkind-the-things-people-say-about-me-so-long-as/)

[Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/)

> [Never say an unkind word to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-melvin/never-say-an-unkind-word-to-anyone/)

Doug Melvin

> [When we speak, we want to say something sweet, but we don't say something sweet because something is ordering us from deep down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-speak-we-want-to-say-something-sweet-but-we-don-t-say/)

[Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/)

> [We veneer civilization by doing unkind things in a kind way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/we-veneer-civilization-by-doing-unkind-things-in-a-kind-way/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [If you lived in London, where the whole system is one of false good-fellowship, and you may know a man for twenty years without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-you-lived-in-london-where-the-whole-system-is-one-of-false-good/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [I've said many, many, many unkind things about Philadelphia, and I meant every one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-ve-said-many-many-many-unkind-things-about-philadelphia-and-i-meant/)

[David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/)

> [People have said unkind things and you kind of have to, if you happen to read it, you have to just, you know, move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkes/people-have-said-unkind-things-and-you-kind-of-have-to-if-you-happen/)

[John Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkes/)

> [Sometimes people say unkind or thoughtless things, and when they do, it is best to be a little hard of hearing — to tune…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/sometimes-people-say-unkind-or-thoughtless-things-and-when-they-do-it/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [Religion makes intelligent people say and do wacky things, believe and affirm crazy things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-makes-intelligent-people-say-and-do-wacky-things-believe-and/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [Be kind to unkind people. They need it most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracesel-balangue-collado/be-kind-to-unkind-people-they-need-it-most/)

[Gracesel Balangue Collado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracesel-balangue-collado/)

> [Unkind people spread malicious tales, and well-intentioned people also censure; but in either case the tranquil sage remains unconcerned. Nowhere is there to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/unkind-people-spread-malicious-tales-and-well-intentioned-people-also/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [Unkind people need your kindness the most. They advertise their pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/unkind-people-need-your-kindness-the-most-they-advertise-their-pain/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

## 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. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [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/)

> [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... 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 Children quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/)

[Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

[Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Religion makes kind people say unkind things: \"I must prove my faith, so mutilate the genitals of my children.\" They wouldn't do that if God didn't tell them to do so.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christopher Hitchens"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-things-i-must-prove-my-faith-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Children"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-things-i-must-prove-my-faith-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/christopher-hitchens-117_children_religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-th_1211226.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Religion makes kind people say unkind things: \"I must prove my faith, so mutilate the genitals of my…” — Christopher Hitchens",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Christopher Hitchens",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Religion makes kind people say unkind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-things-i-must-prove-my-faith-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-makes-kind-people-say-unkind-things-i-must-prove-my-faith-so/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
