--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reasons for declaring belief is not are…" description: "\"Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as reasons for believing in god.\" — Daniel Dennett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png" --- # Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as… ![“Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as reasons for believing in god.” quote by Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png) > “Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as reasons for believing in god.” [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reasons for declaring belief differ from reasons for believing; the former are justifications, the latter are justifications. **In simple terms:** Belief justification differs from belief reason. Key Takeaway Examine why you hold beliefs, not just how you justify them. Themes philosophy epistemology religion Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - debates - personal reflection - academic discourse - faith discussions Key Concepts justification belief formation Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your belief beyond justification? - Do you distinguish between why you believe and how you argue? A Different Perspective People often conflate justification with justification, leading to circular arguments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-reasons-708839/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Believing God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-god/) [Believing In God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-in-god/) [Declaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaring/) [Declaring Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaring-belief-4674986/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-believing-819364/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [You can't get through seminary and come out believing in God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/you-can-t-get-through-seminary-and-come-out-believing-in-god/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [“What if we saw differences in cultures, in moral choices, and in belief as reasons to engage people instead of excuses to disengage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/what-if-we-saw-differences-in-cultures-in-moral-choices-and-in-belief/) [Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/) > [I have altogether failed to comprehend as to how undue pride or vain-gloriousness could ever stand in the way of a man believing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/i-have-altogether-failed-to-comprehend-as-to-how-undue-pride-or-vain/) [Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/) > [“Whatever you set your mind to do, believing in God shall be done. Do not look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oludotun-salako/whatever-you-set-your-mind-to-do-believing-in-god-shall-be-done-do/) [Oludotun Salako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oludotun-salako/) > [“Believing in God and turning into Monsters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/believing-in-god-and-turning-into-monsters/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Life becomes too hard when you stop believing in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-becomes-too-hard-when-you-stop-believing-in-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If anything or anyone removes peace from you or inflicts confusion and judgment on you, this thing or person is not of God regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/if-anything-or-anyone-removes-peace-from-you-or-inflicts-confusion/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [At its root, this is what faith is. It is not believing in God. It's believing God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/at-its-root-this-is-what-faith-is-it-is-not-believing-in-god-it-s/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I don't understand why so many people who are sophisticated in science go on believing in God. I wish I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-don-t-understand-why-so-many-people-who-are-sophisticated-in/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Man is so created that as to his internal he cannot die; for he is capable of believing in God, and thus of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/man-is-so-created-that-as-to-his-internal-he-cannot-die-for-he-is/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [I believe we will start believing in God as we get closer to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/i-believe-we-will-start-believing-in-god-as-we-get-closer-to-death/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [Believing in books is a lot like believing in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-schumacher/believing-in-books-is-a-lot-like-believing-in-god/) [Julie Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-schumacher/) > [Believing in God was something I took as much for granted as the air I breathed. Religion wasn't something that came out of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/believing-in-god-was-something-i-took-as-much-for-granted-as-the-air/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [“I'd rather live my life believing in God to die and see there is one. Because if there isn't one, it means there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-chami-kassis/i-d-rather-live-my-life-believing-in-god-to-die-and-see-there-is-one/) [Sandra Chami Kassis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-chami-kassis/) > [A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-nation-can-assume-that-the-addition-of-the-words-under-god-to-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## More by Daniel Dennett > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Churches have given us great treasures such as music and architecture. Whether that pays for the harm they have done is another matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/churches-have-given-us-great-treasures-such-as-music-and-architecture/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [The secret of happiness is: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/the-secret-of-happiness-is-find-something-more-important-than-you-are/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [There's no polite way to say to somebody (religious followers) 'Do you realize you've wasted your life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/there-s-no-polite-way-to-say-to-somebody-religious-followers-do-you/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Wherever there is a design that is highly successful in a broad range of similar environments, it is apt to emerge again and again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/wherever-there-is-a-design-that-is-highly-successful-in-a-broad-range/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [The haven all memes depend on reaching is the human mind, but a human mind is itself an artifact created when memes restructure a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/the-haven-all-memes-depend-on-reaching-is-the-human-mind-but-a-human/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Cost is always an object - the second law of thermodynamics sees to that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/cost-is-always-an-object-the-second-law-of-thermodynamics-sees-to-that/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [In the beginning, there were no reasons; there were only causes. Nothing had a purpose, nothing has so much as a function; there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/in-the-beginning-there-were-no-reasons-there-were-only-causes-nothing/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [I look around the world and see so many wonderful things that I love and enjoy and benefit from, whether it's art or music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/i-look-around-the-world-and-see-so-many-wonderful-things-that-i-love/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [In all mammalian species that have so far been carefully studied, the rate at which their members engage in the killing of conspecifics is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/in-all-mammalian-species-that-have-so-far-been-carefully-studied-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Cults and prophets proclaiming the imminent end of the world have been with us for several millennia, and it has been another sour sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/cults-and-prophets-proclaiming-the-imminent-end-of-the-world-have/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Consciousness is cerebral celebrity--nothing more and nothing less. Those contents are conscious that persevere, that monopolize resources long enough to achieve certain typical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/consciousness-is-cerebral-celebrity-nothing-more-and-nothing-less/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [People ache to believe that we human beings are vastly different from all other species - and they are right! We are different. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/people-ache-to-believe-that-we-human-beings-are-vastly-different-from/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Minds are in limited supply, and each mind has a limited capacity for memes, and hence there is considerable competition among memes for entry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/minds-are-in-limited-supply-and-each-mind-has-a-limited-capacity-for/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) [Explore all 120 Daniel Dennett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) ## 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. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as reasons for believing in god.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Dennett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are-not-the-same-as-reasons-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are-not-the-same-as-reasons-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/daniel-dennett-3895_belief_reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are_2175372.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as reasons for believing in god.” — Daniel Dennett", "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": "Daniel Dennett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Reasons for declaring belief is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are-not-the-same-as-reasons-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are-not-the-same-as-reasons-for/#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 } } ] } ```