--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is characteristic of theistic…" description: "\"It is characteristic of theistic \"tolerance\" that no one really cares what the people believe in, just so they believe or pretend to believe.\" — Emma G..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/emma-goldman-774_atheism_it-is-characteristic-of-theistic-toleran_1731212.png" --- # It is characteristic of theistic "tolerance" that no one… ![“It is characteristic of theistic "tolerance" that no one really cares what the people believe in, just so they believe or pretend to believe.” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/emma-goldman-774_atheism_it-is-characteristic-of-theistic-toleran_1731212.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/emma-goldman-774_atheism_it-is-characteristic-of-theistic-toleran_1731212.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/emma-goldman-774_atheism_it-is-characteristic-of-theistic-toleran_1731212.png) > “It is characteristic of theistic "tolerance" that no one really cares what the people believe in, just so they believe or pretend to believe.” [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. People claim tolerance while ignoring the actual beliefs of others, focusing only on outward conformity. **In simple terms:** Tolerance is often superficial, caring only about appearances. Key Takeaway Question genuine belief, not just outward compliance. Themes tolerance hypocrisy belief social control Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - community building - education - media analysis Key Concepts Anarchism psychology political theory Questions to Reflect On - How does true tolerance differ from mere acceptance? - What are the consequences of ignoring underlying beliefs? A Different Perspective Superficial tolerance can mask deeper oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) ## Related quotes > [How to raise this dead level of theistic belief is really a matter of life and death for all denominations. Therefore their tolerance; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/how-to-raise-this-dead-level-of-theistic-belief-is-really-a-matter-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Tolerance is not really a lived virtue; it’s more of a cerebral ascent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/tolerance-is-not-really-a-lived-virtue-it-s-more-of-a-cerebral-ascent/) [Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/) > [“Our culture diets on the candy of tolerance, but what it really craves is the meat of grace. Tolerance does not value people but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burke/our-culture-diets-on-the-candy-of-tolerance-but-what-it-really-craves/) [John Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burke/) > [Tolerance should really be only a temporary attitude; it must lead to recognition. To tolerate means to offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/tolerance-should-really-be-only-a-temporary-attitude-it-must-lead-to-2/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Tolerance should really only be a passing attitude: it should lead to appreciation. To tolerate is to offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/tolerance-should-really-only-be-a-passing-attitude-it-should-lead-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Tolerance Should Really Be Only A Temporary Attitude... It Must Lead To Recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/tolerance-should-really-be-only-a-temporary-attitude-it-must-lead-to/) Pacifiersucker > [Tolerance is really a better thing than understanding. Because it doesn't agitate against human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/tolerance-is-really-a-better-thing-than-understanding-because-it/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Theism, as a way of conceiving God, has become demonstrably inadequate, and the God of theism not only is dying but is probably not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/theism-as-a-way-of-conceiving-god-has-become-demonstrably-inadequate/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“The absence of theistic belief... { Defining the word 'atheism' }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccabe/the-absence-of-theistic-belief-defining-the-word-atheism/) [Joseph McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccabe/) > [Nonbelievers may hear all the notes of science, but without a theistic context and perspective they will not hear the song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-marsden/nonbelievers-may-hear-all-the-notes-of-science-but-without-a-theistic/) George Marsden > [The theistic philosopher has a tendency to devalue insufficient worldviews, ideologies, and quite often common sense for the greater good, and in such cases,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-theistic-philosopher-has-a-tendency-to-devalue-insufficient/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Physicists use 'God' as a metaphor more often than other scientists-- especially in popular writing, but in the technical literature as well. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taner-edis/physicists-use-god-as-a-metaphor-more-often-than-other-scientists/) [Taner Edis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taner-edis/) > [There is superficial conflict but deep concord between science and theistic religion, but superficial concord and deep conflict between science and naturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/there-is-superficial-conflict-but-deep-concord-between-science-and/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [“In that context, I find theistic evolution, or BioLogos, to be by far the most scientifically consistent and spiritually satisfying of the alternatives. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/in-that-context-i-find-theistic-evolution-or-biologos-to-be-by-far/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [To most theistic believers, human life can have no meaning in a universe without God. Quite sincerely, and with understandable yearning for a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/to-most-theistic-believers-human-life-can-have-no-meaning-in-a/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) ## 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? 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