Afterlife Quote by Desmond Morris
“This gives the agents of the gods a powerful area of support. All they need to do is to remind their followers constantly of their mortality and to convince them that the afterlife itself is under the personal management of the particular gods they are promoting. The self-protective urges of their worshippers will do the rest.”
About This Quote
The quote suggests that deities maintain influence by constantly reminding followers of mortality and promising personal control over the afterlife, leveraging self‑protective instincts.
In simple terms: Gods keep power by stressing death and personal afterlife control.
Recognize how fear can be used to manipulate belief.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political rhetoric
- religious preaching
- cult recruitment
- personal counseling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fear shape your own convictions?
- Can authority be built without invoking mortality?
The claim may oversimplify complex motivations behind belief.