--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It it is worse than useless for…" description: "\"“It it is worse than useless for Christians to talk about the importance of Christian morality, unless they are prepared to take their stand upon the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_christian-morality_it-it-is-worse-than-useless-for-christia_662287.jpg" --- # It it is worse than useless for Christians to talk about… ![“It it is worse than useless for Christians to talk about the importance of Christian morality, unless they are prepared to take their stand upon the fundamentals of Christian theology. It is a lie to say that dogma does not matter; it matters enormously. It is fatal to let people suppose that…” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_christian-morality_it-it-is-worse-than-useless-for-christia_662287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_christian-morality_it-it-is-worse-than-useless-for-christia_662287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_christian-morality_it-it-is-worse-than-useless-for-christia_662287.jpg) > ““It it is worse than useless for Christians to talk about the importance of Christian morality, unless they are prepared to take their stand upon the fundamentals of Christian theology. It is a lie to say that dogma does not matter; it matters enormously. It is fatal to let people suppose that Christianity is only a mode of feeling; it is vitally necessary to insist that it is first and foremost a rational explanation of the universe. It is hopeless to offer Christianity as a vaguely idealistic aspiration of a simple and consoling kind; it is, on the contrary, a hard, tough, exacting, and complex doctrine, steeped in a drastic and incompromising realism. And it is fatal to imagine that everybody knows quite well what Christianity is and needs only a little encouragement to practice it. The brutal fact is that in this Christian country not one person in a hundred has the faintest notion what the Church teaches about God or man or society or the person of Jesus Christ… ...Theologically this country is at present is in a state of utter chaos established in the name of religious toleration and rapidly degenerating into flight from reason and the death of hope.”” [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christianity must be presented as a rational, rigorous doctrine, not merely a comforting feeling, lest it become meaningless. **In simple terms:** Christianity needs rational foundation. Key Takeaway Emphasize reason in faith. Themes faith reason dogma Mood reflective serious Type theoretical inspirational When to use this quote - religious education - public discourse - church teaching Key Concepts theology philosophy culture Questions to Reflect On - How can faith be both rational and comforting? - What role should reason play in religious practice? A Different Perspective Rational arguments may alienate those seeking emotional comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-morality/) [Christian theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-theology/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ## Related quotes > [“Perhaps the cultural Christianity needs to become full-on no-excuses Christianity. You need light to fight the dark. It's the oldest story in the book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caspar-vega/perhaps-the-cultural-christianity-needs-to-become-full-on-no-excuses/) [Caspar Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caspar-vega/) > [In pulpit eloquence, the grand difficulty lies here--to give the subject all the dignity it so fully deserves, without attaching any importance to ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/in-pulpit-eloquence-the-grand-difficulty-lies-here-to-give-the/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hancock/sensible-of-the-importance-of-christian-piety-and-virtue-to-the-order-2/) [John Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hancock/) > [Although I'm not Christian, I was raised Christian. I'm an atheist, with a slight Buddhist leaning. I've got a very strong sense of morality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-griffiths/although-i-m-not-christian-i-was-raised-christian-i-m-an-atheist-with/) [Rachel Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-griffiths/) > [The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-only-foundation-for-a-republic-is-to-be-laid-in-religion-without/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths . . . ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/where-is-the-security-for-property-for-reputation-for-life-if-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [These principles have been proclaimed by God, by the Church, by the Saints, by Christian reason and morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xii/these-principles-have-been-proclaimed-by-god-by-the-church-by-the/) [Pope Pius XII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xii/) > [Christian morality prefers remorse to precede lust, and then lust not to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/christian-morality-prefers-remorse-to-precede-lust-and-then-lust-not/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [A strange fanaticism fills our time: the fanatical hatred of morality, especially of Christian morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strange-fanaticism-fills-our-time-the-fanatical-hatred-of-morality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“it was much less dangerous for the disciples of Christ to neglect the observance of the moral duties, than to despise the censures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-much-less-dangerous-for-the-disciples-of-christ-to-neglect-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed-to-him-i-e-jesus-by-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Because Christian morality leaves animals out of account, they are at once outlawed in philosophical morals; they are mere 'things,' mere means to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/because-christian-morality-leaves-animals-out-of-account-they-are-at/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“By setting such strong, harsh dichotomies God taught Israel that any assimilation to pagan idolatry is intolerable. It was His way of preserving Israel’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/by-setting-such-strong-harsh-dichotomies-god-taught-israel-that-any/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More by Dorothy L. Sayers > [“The really essential factors of success in any undertaking are money and opportunity, and as a rule, the man who can make the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-really-essential-factors-of-success-in-any-undertaking-are-money/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“ Peter! Were you looking for a horse-shoe?" "No; I was expecting the horse, but the shoe is a piece of pure, gorgeous luck."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/peter-were-you-looking-for-a-horse-shoe-no-i-was-expecting-the-horse/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [But it is the mark of all movements, however well-intentioned, that their pioneers tend, by much lashing of themselves into excitement, to lose sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/but-it-is-the-mark-of-all-movements-however-well-intentioned-that/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [One must not only die daily, but every day we must be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/one-must-not-only-die-daily-but-every-day-we-must-be-born-again/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“By teaching them all to read, we have left them at the mercy of the printed word. By the invention of the film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/by-teaching-them-all-to-read-we-have-left-them-at-the-mercy-of-the/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ Perhaps \[the critics are right and\] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-drama-is-played-out-now-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [... at no point have I yet found artistic truth and theological truth at variance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/at-no-point-have-i-yet-found-artistic-truth-and-theological-truth-at/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I have never yet heard any middle-aged man or woman who worked with his or her brains express any regret for the passing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/i-have-never-yet-heard-any-middle-aged-man-or-woman-who-worked-with/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“That was the second time within five minutes that he had warned her off his private ground. His mood had changed since the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/that-was-the-second-time-within-five-minutes-that-he-had-warned-her/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“To obey orders in this family has been my privilege for the last twenty years--a privilege which has been an unqualified pleasure, except perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/to-obey-orders-in-this-family-has-been-my-privilege-for-the-last/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Those who make some other person their job... are dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/those-who-make-some-other-person-their-job-are-dangerous/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“Yes, and look at the corpses. Place always reminds me of that old thing in Punch, you know—‘Waiter, take away Lord Whatsisname, he’s been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/yes-and-look-at-the-corpses-place-always-reminds-me-of-that-old-thing/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) [Explore all 386 Dorothy L. Sayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## More Christian morality quotes > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [“By setting such strong, harsh dichotomies God taught Israel that any assimilation to pagan idolatry is intolerable. It was His way of preserving Israel’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/by-setting-such-strong-harsh-dichotomies-god-taught-israel-that-any/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [Because Christian morality leaves animals out of account, they are at once outlawed in philosophical morals; they are mere 'things,' mere means to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/because-christian-morality-leaves-animals-out-of-account-they-are-at/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed-to-him-i-e-jesus-by-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“it was much less dangerous for the disciples of Christ to neglect the observance of the moral duties, than to despise the censures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-much-less-dangerous-for-the-disciples-of-christ-to-neglect-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A strange fanaticism fills our time: the fanatical hatred of morality, especially of Christian morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strange-fanaticism-fills-our-time-the-fanatical-hatred-of-morality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Christian morality prefers remorse to precede lust, and then lust not to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/christian-morality-prefers-remorse-to-precede-lust-and-then-lust-not/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [These principles have been proclaimed by God, by the Church, by the Saints, by Christian reason and morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xii/these-principles-have-been-proclaimed-by-god-by-the-church-by-the/) [Pope Pius XII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xii/) > [Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths . . . ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/where-is-the-security-for-property-for-reputation-for-life-if-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-only-foundation-for-a-republic-is-to-be-laid-in-religion-without/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Although I'm not Christian, I was raised Christian. I'm an atheist, with a slight Buddhist leaning. I've got a very strong sense of morality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-griffiths/although-i-m-not-christian-i-was-raised-christian-i-m-an-atheist-with/) [Rachel Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-griffiths/) > [When one gives up Christian belief one thereby deprives oneself of the right to Christian morality. For the latter is absolutely not self-evident: one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/when-one-gives-up-christian-belief-one-thereby-deprives-oneself-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Giving to the poor is an essential part of Christian morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/giving-to-the-poor-is-an-essential-part-of-christian-morality/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Christian morality, laws rooted in the secular humanist belief that all consensual sexual acts are morally equal. That belief is anti-biblical and amoral; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/christian-morality-laws-rooted-in-the-secular-humanist-belief-that/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) [Browse all 48 Christian morality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-morality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It it is worse than useless for Christians to talk about the importance of Christian morality, unless they are prepared to take their stand upon the fundamentals of Christian theology. It is a lie to say that dogma does not matter; it matters enormously. It is fatal to let people suppose that Christianity is only a mode of feeling; it is vitally necessary to insist that it is first and foremost a rational explanation of the universe. It is hopeless to offer Christianity as a vaguely idealistic aspiration of a simple and consoling kind; it is, on the contrary, a hard, tough, exacting, and complex doctrine, steeped in a drastic and incompromising realism. And it is fatal to imagine that everybody knows quite well what Christianity is and needs only a little encouragement to practice it. The brutal fact is that in this Christian country not one person in a hundred has the faintest notion what the Church teaches about God or man or society or the person of Jesus Christ… ...Theologically this country is at present is in a state of utter chaos established in the name of religious toleration and rapidly degenerating into flight from reason and the death of hope.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy L. 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