--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many books have been written to show that…" description: "\"Many books have been written to show that Christianity has emasculated the world, that it shoved aside the enlightenment and wisdom of Hellas for a doc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/edgar-lee-masters-14862_atheism_many-books-have-been-written-to-show-tha_646347.jpg" --- # Many books have been written to show that Christianity has… ![“Many books have been written to show that Christianity has emasculated the world, that it shoved aside the enlightenment and wisdom of Hellas for a doctrine of superstition and ignorance.” quote by Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/edgar-lee-masters-14862_atheism_many-books-have-been-written-to-show-tha_646347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/edgar-lee-masters-14862_atheism_many-books-have-been-written-to-show-tha_646347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/edgar-lee-masters-14862_atheism_many-books-have-been-written-to-show-tha_646347.jpg) > “Many books have been written to show that Christianity has emasculated the world, that it shoved aside the enlightenment and wisdom of Hellas for a doctrine of superstition and ignorance.” [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author claims Christianity suppressed classical wisdom, replacing it with superstition. **In simple terms:** Christianity replaced ancient wisdom with superstition. Key Takeaway Question the impact of religion on knowledge. Themes religion history culture knowledge enlightenment Mood critical reflective Type analytical historical When to use this quote - academic debate - religious studies - cultural criticism Key Concepts suppression doctrine civilization Questions to Reflect On - How does faith shape societies? - Can tradition and reason coexist? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook positive contributions of Christianity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Superstitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstitions/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [As long as superstition and ignorance prevail, humanity will fall short of eradicating war, poverty, and hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/as-long-as-superstition-and-ignorance-prevail-humanity-will-fall/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Great books are written for Christianity much oftener than great deeds are done for it. City libraries tell us of the reign of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/great-books-are-written-for-christianity-much-oftener-than-great/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [“ Ingersoll could not understand the mind of those who, once having been told the truth, preferred to remain under the spell of superstition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/ingersoll-could-not-understand-the-mind-of-those-who-once-having-been/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“Magic begins in superstition, and ends in science. ... At every step the history of civilization teaches us how slight and superficial a structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/magic-begins-in-superstition-and-ends-in-science-at-every-step-the/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [All religions are ancient monuments to superstition, ignorance and ferocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/all-religions-are-ancient-monuments-to-superstition-ignorance-and/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [We see in the 20th Century an unfortunate trench warfare, in which psychoanalysis, in a struggle against the internalized compulsion and superstition of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-drewermann/we-see-in-the-20th-century-an-unfortunate-trench-warfare-in-which/) [Eugen Drewermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-drewermann/) > [I often think the doctrine of fasting in Lent and having meatless days as old-fashioned...it might be better to give up television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ramsey/i-often-think-the-doctrine-of-fasting-in-lent-and-having-meatless/) [Michael Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ramsey/) > [We must therefore turn to history for enlightenment; here we find that none of the proclaimed anarchist groups correspond to the libertarian position, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/we-must-therefore-turn-to-history-for-enlightenment-here-we-find-that/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [If you see your nature, you don't need to read sutras or invoke buddhas. Erudition and knowledge are not only useless but also cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-you-see-your-nature-you-don-t-need-to-read-sutras-or-invoke/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [I think superstition has a lot to do with fear: the less, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-think-superstition-has-a-lot-to-do-with-fear-the-less-the-better/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [fear has always been a diminisher of life. Whether bred in the bogs of superstition or clothed in the brocades of dogma and ritual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/fear-has-always-been-a-diminisher-of-life-whether-bred-in-the-bogs-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [I actually rid myself of superstitions, but I do a quick 20-minute meditation before games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christen-press/i-actually-rid-myself-of-superstitions-but-i-do-a-quick-20-minute/) [Christen Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christen-press/) > [The state of mind which I put myself when I tell a story is one in which superstition flourishes very easily. And I welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-state-of-mind-which-i-put-myself-when-i-tell-a-story-is-one-in/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## More by Edgar Lee Masters > [The earth keeps some vibration going There in your heart, and that is you. And if the people find you can fiddle, why fiddle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-earth-keeps-some-vibration-going-there-in-your-heart-and-that-is/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [O maternal earth which rocks the fallen leaf to sleep!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/o-maternal-earth-which-rocks-the-fallen-leaf-to-sleep/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [And I never started to plow in my life That some one did not stop in the road And take me away to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/and-i-never-started-to-plow-in-my-life-that-some-one-did-not-stop-in/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Did I follow Truth wherever she led, And stand against the whole world for a cause, And uphold the weak against the strong? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/did-i-follow-truth-wherever-she-led-and-stand-against-the-whole-world/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [The spiritual kinship between Lincoln and Whitman was founded upon their Americanism, their essential Westernism. Whitman had grown up without much formal education; Lincoln…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-spiritual-kinship-between-lincoln-and-whitman-was-founded-upon/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [“Henry got me with child, Knowing that I could not bring forth life Without losing my own. In my youth therefore I entered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/henry-got-me-with-child-knowing-that-i-could-not-bring-forth-life/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [There is the silence of age, too full of wisdom for the tongue to utter it in words intelligible to those who have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/there-is-the-silence-of-age-too-full-of-wisdom-for-the-tongue-to/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Work for your own soul's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/work-for-your-own-soul-s-sake/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [The Typical American? He is sent to school Little or much, where he imbibes the rule Of safety first and comfort; in his youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-typical-american-he-is-sent-to-school-little-or-much-where-he/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [The dust's for crawling, heaven's for flying, Wherefore, O Soul, whose wings are grown, Soar upward to the sun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-dust-s-for-crawling-heaven-s-for-flying-wherefore-o-soul-whose/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire-It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/to-put-meaning-in-one-s-life-may-end-in-madness-but-life-without/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [To love is to find your own soul Through the soul of the beloved one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/to-love-is-to-find-your-own-soul-through-the-soul-of-the-beloved-one/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [There is no marriage in Heaven, but there is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/there-is-no-marriage-in-heaven-but-there-is-love/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [The mind sees the world as a thing apart, And the soul makes the world at one with itself. A mirror scratched reflects no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-mind-sees-the-world-as-a-thing-apart-and-the-soul-makes-the-world/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [“I tramped through the country To get the feeling That I was not a separate thing from the earth. I used to lose myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/i-tramped-through-the-country-to-get-the-feeling-that-i-was-not-a/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) [Explore all 44 Edgar Lee Masters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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