--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion isn't best understood primarily…" description: "\"Religion isn't best understood primarily as a collection of beliefs held by backward people with fear and trembling for most of human history (religion..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg" --- # Religion isn't best understood primarily as a collection… ![“Religion isn't best understood primarily as a collection of beliefs held by backward people with fear and trembling for most of human history (religion as brainwash). It is rather, among other things, a scriptorium of beleaguered witness, a record of collated information, both fragmentary and…” quote by David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg) > “Religion isn't best understood primarily as a collection of beliefs held by backward people with fear and trembling for most of human history (religion as brainwash). It is rather, among other things, a scriptorium of beleaguered witness, a record of collated information, both fragmentary and sometimes systematic, with which we may feel compelled to reckon as it somehow, across history, reckons with us, an inheritance, if you like, of difficult wisdom.” [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion is a complex archive of human experience, offering difficult wisdom that challenges us across time. **In simple terms:** Religion records human struggle and insight. Key Takeaway Engage with religious texts as sources of challenging wisdom. Themes religion wisdom history humanity Mood reflective thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - theological study - personal reflection - academic research Key Concepts philosophical inquiry cultural analysis Questions to Reflect On - What difficult truths can religion reveal today? - How does personal experience shape interpretation? A Different Perspective Religious narratives can be used to justify oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Inheritance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inheritance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I like to go after the foibles, basically of beliefs that are held without question. If people still want to believe in their stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/i-like-to-go-after-the-foibles-basically-of-beliefs-that-are-held/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [RELIGION: A set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of life, going beyond or contrary to evidence, and inculcated by methods which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/religion-a-set-of-beliefs-held-as-dogmas-dominating-the-conduct-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The process of philosophic and scientific enlightenment has shaken the stability of beliefs held explicitly as articles of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/the-process-of-philosophic-and-scientific-enlightenment-has-shaken/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [In modern America, Judeo-Christian beliefs are often held up to ridicule and disdain by the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-james-kennedy/in-modern-america-judeo-christian-beliefs-are-often-held-up-to/) [D. James Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-james-kennedy/) > [By religion I mean a set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of life, going beyond or contrary to evidence, and inculcated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/by-religion-i-mean-a-set-of-beliefs-held-as-dogmas-dominating-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Among the beliefs I held about the world was that being beautiful should not matter to a woman, because it was one of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/among-the-beliefs-i-held-about-the-world-was-that-being-beautiful/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Religion isn't the opium of the people, it's the hypocrisy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ngel-s-ez-guti-rrez-marino/religion-isn-t-the-opium-of-the-people-it-s-the-hypocrisy/) [Miguel Ángel Sáez Gutiérrez «Marino»](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ngel-s-ez-guti-rrez-marino/) > [The thing I worry about with religion isn't to do much with forgetting Christmas. It's to do with religion being angry and violent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/the-thing-i-worry-about-with-religion-isn-t-to-do-much-with/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [Religion isn’t about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/religion-isn-t-about-believing-things-it-s-ethical-alchemy-it-s-about/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Religion isn't yours firsthand until you doubt it right down to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bowes-sayre-sr/religion-isn-t-yours-firsthand-until-you-doubt-it-right-down-to-the/) Francis Bowes Sayre, Sr > [Comparing science and religion isn't like comparing apples and oranges - it's more like apples and sewing machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-horner/comparing-science-and-religion-isn-t-like-comparing-apples-and/) [Jack Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-horner/) > [Religion isn't in your DNA. you don't believe just because your parents believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/religion-isn-t-in-your-dna-you-don-t-believe-just-because-your/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The most important part of religion isn't in any church. It's down in your own heart. Religion is in your thoughts, and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/the-most-important-part-of-religion-isn-t-in-any-church-it-s-down-in/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [I believe the world of the spirit is in general greatly neglected and not at all served by the practice of faith as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-delaney/i-believe-the-world-of-the-spirit-is-in-general-greatly-neglected-and/) [Frank Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-delaney/) > [Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/religion-isn-t-the-cause-of-wars-it-s-the-excuse/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) ## More by David Dark > [“We probably ought to be careful about deciding we're feeling offended; it can get old after a while. We become offended in all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/we-probably-ought-to-be-careful-about-deciding-we-re-feeling-offended/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [“If we've deluded ourselves into thinking that our angry mass emails or conversation-stopping talking points serve as a ministry or carry out the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/if-we-ve-deluded-ourselves-into-thinking-that-our-angry-mass-emails/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [Feeling offended is invigorating. Feeling offended is a reassuring sensation. It's easier than asking ourselves if the redeeming love of God is evident in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/feeling-offended-is-invigorating-feeling-offended-is-a-reassuring/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [“The movement called Christianity cannot be understood apart from the Jewish concept of shalom. The Christian gospel does not call people to give their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/the-movement-called-christianity-cannot-be-understood-apart-from-the/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [And for the sake of humility--a characteristic crucial to sacred questioning we might do well to confess that we're capable at any moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/and-for-the-sake-of-humility-a-characteristic-crucial-to-sacred/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [“In our confusion, we're accustomed to according the titles of good news and "a positive message" to the most soul-sucking, sentimental fare imaginable. Any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/in-our-confusion-we-re-accustomed-to-according-the-titles-of-good/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [Religion is born out of questions, not answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/religion-is-born-out-of-questions-not-answers/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [What the pundits call wishy-washiness, the Bible calls repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/what-the-pundits-call-wishy-washiness-the-bible-calls-repentance/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [“The kingdom of the world is becoming the kingdom of God, and it doesn't depend upon our acknowledgement or faithfulness to it within our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/the-kingdom-of-the-world-is-becoming-the-kingdom-of-god-and-it-doesn/) [david dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [“Apocalyptic shows us what we're not seeing. It can't be composed or spoken by the powers that be, because they are the sustainers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/apocalyptic-shows-us-what-we-re-not-seeing-it-can-t-be-composed-or/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) > [“My so-called love for humanity, for instance, isn't something I get to carry around in my heart. It has to find application among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/my-so-called-love-for-humanity-for-instance-isn-t-something-i-get-to/) [David Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) [Explore all 12 David Dark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/) ## 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": "Religion isn't best understood primarily as a collection of beliefs held by backward people with fear and trembling for most of human history (religion as brainwash). It is rather, among other things, a scriptorium of beleaguered witness, a record of collated information, both fragmentary and sometimes systematic, with which we may feel compelled to reckon as it somehow, across history, reckons with us, an inheritance, if you like, of difficult wisdom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Dark" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily-as-a-collection-of-beliefs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily-as-a-collection-of-beliefs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/david-dark-37533_belief_religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily_2934139.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Religion isn't best understood primarily as a collection of beliefs held by backward people with fear and…” — David Dark", "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": "David Dark", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dark/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Religion isn't best understood primarily as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily-as-a-collection-of-beliefs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dark/religion-isn-t-best-understood-primarily-as-a-collection-of-beliefs/#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 } } ] } ```