--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Morals do exist outside of organized…" description: "\"“Morals do exist outside of organized religion, and the ‘morality’ taught by many of these archaic systems is often outdated, sexist, racist, and teach..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/david-g-mcafee-12205_bible-interpretation_morals-do-exist-outside-of-organized-rel_2685063.jpg" --- # Morals do exist outside of organized religion, and the… ![“Morals do exist outside of organized religion, and the ‘morality’ taught by many of these archaic systems is often outdated, sexist, racist, and teaches intolerance and inequality. When a parent forces a child into a religion, the parent is effectively handicapping his or her own offspring by…” quote by David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/david-g-mcafee-12205_bible-interpretation_morals-do-exist-outside-of-organized-rel_2685063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/david-g-mcafee-12205_bible-interpretation_morals-do-exist-outside-of-organized-rel_2685063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/david-g-mcafee-12205_bible-interpretation_morals-do-exist-outside-of-organized-rel_2685063.jpg) > ““Morals do exist outside of organized religion, and the ‘morality’ taught by many of these archaic systems is often outdated, sexist, racist, and teaches intolerance and inequality. When a parent forces a child into a religion, the parent is effectively handicapping his or her own offspring by limiting the abilities of the child to question the world around him or her and make informed decisions. Children raised under these conditions will mature believing that their religion is the only correct one, and, in the case of Christianity, they will believe that all who doubt their religion’s validity will suffer eternal damnation. This environment is one that often breeds hate, ignorance, and ‘justified’ violence.”” [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques organized religion for imposing outdated morals and limiting critical thinking, leading to intolerance. **In simple terms:** Religion can limit free thought and foster intolerance. Key Takeaway Encourage independent thinking. Themes religion morality freedom of thought Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - education - parenting - community dialogue Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you discuss religion respectfully? - What alternatives promote moral development? A Different Perspective Some find comfort and community in religion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible-interpretation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-interpretation/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals/) [Organized religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) [Question-everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-everything/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Religion is no more the parent of morality than an incubator is the mother of a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemuel-k-washburn/religion-is-no-more-the-parent-of-morality-than-an-incubator-is-the/) Lemuel K Washburn > [Morality is not only taught; it is caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-kurshan/morality-is-not-only-taught-it-is-caught/) [Neil Kurshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-kurshan/) > [Have you ever observed somebody go through a religious conversion? The person seems perfectly reasonable to you and has no particular concern for religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrel-ray/have-you-ever-observed-somebody-go-through-a-religious-conversion-the/) [Darrel Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrel-ray/) > [I consider the doctrines of Jesus as delivered by himself to contain the outlines of the sublimest system of morality that has ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-consider-the-doctrines-of-jesus-as-delivered-by-himself-to-contain/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Humanity is the child of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-girard/humanity-is-the-child-of-religion/) [Rene Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-girard/) > [Fanaticism is a monster that pretends to be the child of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-is-a-monster-that-pretends-to-be-the-child-of-religion/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think there in a great deal to be said for religious education in the sense of teaching about religion and biblical literacy. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-think-there-in-a-great-deal-to-be-said-for-religious-education-in/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Religion is the emulation of the adult by the child. Religion is the encystment of past beliefs: mythology, which is guesswork, the hidden assumptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/religion-is-the-emulation-of-the-adult-by-the-child-religion-is-the-2/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [Let the purity and innocence of a child be your one and only religion!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/let-the-purity-and-innocence-of-a-child-be-your-one-and-only-religion/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Religion is the emulation of the adult by the child. 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When a man has developed a high state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-man-may-be-the-greatest-philosopher-in-the-world-but-a-child-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Art itself, in all its methods, is the child of religion. The highest and best works in architecture, sculpture and painting, poetry and music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/art-itself-in-all-its-methods-is-the-child-of-religion-the-highest/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [“Avoid blind compliance. Ask questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-ikonn/avoid-blind-compliance-ask-questions/) [Mimi Ikonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-ikonn/) > [“I follow and cultivate my own curiosity. I think curiosity is one of the top two or three human characteristics. It's something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/i-follow-and-cultivate-my-own-curiosity-i-think-curiosity-is-one-of/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) ## More by David G. McAfee > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Atheism is not synonymous with anti-theism and not all atheists are 'active.' There are many non-believers who aren’t activists, who don’t oppose religion at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/atheism-is-not-synonymous-with-anti-theism-and-not-all-atheists-are/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Some believers treat their religion as if it’s some sort of lottery. 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McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“We live in a world where unfortunately the distinction between true and false appears to become increasingly blurred by manipulation of facts, by exploitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/we-live-in-a-world-where-unfortunately-the-distinction-between-true/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“There's nothing more narcissistic than being sure that you are built in the image of an all-powerful Creator-God, and that same God answers your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/there-s-nothing-more-narcissistic-than-being-sure-that-you-are-built/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Would a just God sentence a morally good individual to hell for never having heard of him? And for that matter, would a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/would-a-just-god-sentence-a-morally-good-individual-to-hell-for-never/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship!' Without the religion, without the archaic and flawed holy texts, there wouldn’t be anything for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/it-s-not-a-religion-it-s-a-relationship-without-the-religion-without/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Here’s an easy way to figure out if you’re in a cult: If you’re wondering whether you’re in a cult, the answer is yes.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/here-s-an-easy-way-to-figure-out-if-you-re-in-a-cult-if-you-re-2/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [If for every well-intended prayer uttered in hopes of making the world a better place, there was instead a good deed accomplished, the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/if-for-every-well-intended-prayer-uttered-in-hopes-of-making-the/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“People who have extremely limited knowledge of The Bible or its implications may still choose to classify themselves as Christians on the basis that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/people-who-have-extremely-limited-knowledge-of-the-bible-or-its/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) [Explore all 56 David G. McAfee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) ## More Bible-interpretation quotes > [“Jesus and Paul knew the Old Testament completely. 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Joseph was rightfully no more a Slave to his brethren, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-sewall/so-that-originally-and-naturally-there-is-no-such-thing-as-slavery/) Samuel Sewall [Browse all 20 Bible-interpretation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-interpretation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Morals do exist outside of organized religion, and the ‘morality’ taught by many of these archaic systems is often outdated, sexist, racist, and teaches intolerance and inequality. When a parent forces a child into a religion, the parent is effectively handicapping his or her own offspring by limiting the abilities of the child to question the world around him or her and make informed decisions. 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