--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consciously or unconsciously, most…" description: "\"Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience, me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/emma-goldman-774_atheism_consciously-or-unconsciously-most-theist_2685035.png" --- # Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and… ![“Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience, meekness and contentment… The philosophy of atheism expresses the expansion and growth of the human mind. The philosophy of theism, if we can call it…” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/emma-goldman-774_atheism_consciously-or-unconsciously-most-theist_2685035.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/emma-goldman-774_atheism_consciously-or-unconsciously-most-theist_2685035.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/emma-goldman-774_atheism_consciously-or-unconsciously-most-theist_2685035.png) > “Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience, meekness and contentment… The philosophy of atheism expresses the expansion and growth of the human mind. The philosophy of theism, if we can call it a philosophy, is static and fixed.” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theism uses divine concepts to control people, while atheism encourages intellectual freedom and growth. **In simple terms:** Religion can restrict thought; atheism frees the mind. Key Takeaway Promote critical thinking over dogma. Themes religion atheism freedom control philosophy Mood critical provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - secular activism - public debate - personal development Key Concepts social critique humanism ethical autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How does belief shape personal freedom? - Can secular ideas coexist with cultural traditions? A Different Perspective Not all religious individuals are oppressive; cultural contexts vary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Meekness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meekness/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Reward and punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-and-punishment/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Theism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theism/) [Theist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theist/) [Theists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theists/) ## Related quotes > [Have not all theists painted their Deity as the god of love and goodness? Yet after thousands of years of such preachments the gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/have-not-all-theists-painted-their-deity-as-the-god-of-love-and-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Have not all theists painted their Deity as the god of love and goodness? Yet after thousands of years of such preachments the gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/have-not-all-theists-painted-their-deity-as-the-god-of-love-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The philosophy of Atheism has its root in the earth, in this life; its aim is the emancipation of the human race from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-philosophy-of-atheism-has-its-root-in-the-earth-in-this-life-its/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The triumph of the philosophy of Atheism is to free man from the nightmare of gods; it means the dissolution of the phantoms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-triumph-of-the-philosophy-of-atheism-is-to-free-man-from-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The philosophy of Atheism represents a concept of life without any metaphysical Beyond or Divine Regulator. It is the concept of an actual, real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-philosophy-of-atheism-represents-a-concept-of-life-without-any/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [I do not believe in God. It seems to me that theists of all kinds have very largely failed to make their concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-ayer/i-do-not-believe-in-god-it-seems-to-me-that-theists-of-all-kinds-have/) [A.J. Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-ayer/) > [Most people I know I think agree and even many theists agree with this. We don't want government involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-newdow/most-people-i-know-i-think-agree-and-even-many-theists-agree-with-2/) [Michael Newdow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-newdow/) > [Scientific evidence for God's existence is being claimed today by theists, many of whom carry respectable scientific or philosophical credentials. He who is neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/scientific-evidence-for-god-s-existence-is-being-claimed-today-by/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [I suspect that here theists and atheists would agree: Human beings have within them the ability to choose evil or good. We wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/i-suspect-that-here-theists-and-atheists-would-agree-human-beings/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) > [Unlike those theists who at least pay lip service to science and scientific method, Johnson is out to convict science of fraud in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/unlike-those-theists-who-at-least-pay-lip-service-to-science-and/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Theists give several 'proofs' of the existence of God. These are really just arguments, because if there were convincing proof just one would suffice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-conche/theists-give-several-proofs-of-the-existence-of-god-these-are-really/) Marcel Conche > [Most theists are deists most of the time, in practice if not in theory. They practice the absence of God instead of the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/most-theists-are-deists-most-of-the-time-in-practice-if-not-in-theory/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Open theists affirm the same openness of the future that religious believers assume when they pray and almost all humans assume when they act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-clayton/open-theists-affirm-the-same-openness-of-the-future-that-religious/) Philip Clayton > [Theists and atheists are equally religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/theists-and-atheists-are-equally-religious/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Some theists, observing that all 'effects' need a cause, assert that God is a cause but not an effect. But no one has ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/some-theists-observing-that-all-effects-need-a-cause-assert-that-god/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) ## More by Emma Goldman > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [More pernicious than the power of a dictator is that of a class; the most terrible - the tyranny of a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/more-pernicious-than-the-power-of-a-dictator-is-that-of-a-class-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the definer of all laws, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/love-the-strongest-and-deepest-element-in-all-life-the-harbinger-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The free expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people is the greatest and only safety in a sane society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-free-expression-of-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-a-people-is-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/someone-has-said-that-it-requires-less-mental-effort-to-condemn-than/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## 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. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [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/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. 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? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience, meekness and contentment… The philosophy of atheism expresses the expansion and growth of the human mind. 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