Dangerous Quote by Daniel Dennett
“I don't think the 9/11 attacks taught us anything we didn't already know about religion. It has long been obvious - even to the deeply religious - that religious fanaticism is an extremely dangerous deranger of otherwise sane and goodhearted people.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Lecture on Religion, 2005
The quote argues that the 9/11 attacks revealed no new insight about religious extremism; its dangers were already evident.
In simple terms: 9/11 showed what we already knew about fanaticism.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address extremist beliefs early.
Themes
religion
extremism
danger
humanity
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community education
- interfaith dialogue
- media reporting
Key Concepts
fanaticism
psychology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies prevent radicalization before it erupts?
- What role does education play in mitigating fanaticism?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks systemic factors that enable extremism beyond belief alone.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
