Faith Quote by Francis S. Collins
““while the long history of religious oppression and hypocrisy is profoundly sobering, the earnest seeker must look beyond the behavior of flawed humans in order to find the truth. Would you condemn an oak tree because its timbers had been used to build battering rams? Would you blame the air for allowing lies to be transmitted through it? Would you judge Mozart’s The Magic Flute on the basis of a poorly rehearsed performance by fifth-graders? If you had never seen a real sunset over the Pacific, would you allow a tourist brochure as a substitute? Would you evaluate the power of romantic love solely in the light of an abusive marriage next door? No. A real evaluation of the truth of faith depends upon looking at the clean, pure water, not at the rusty containers.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Lecture on Faith and Reason, 2015
Truth should be judged by its pure essence, not by imperfect vessels or flawed human actions that convey it.
In simple terms: Judge truth by its core, not its carriers.
Key Takeaway
Seek the essence beyond flawed representations.
Themes
faith
truth
perception
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- religious discourse
- scientific inquiry
- media analysis
Key Concepts
epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to look beyond the container?
- How do we separate message from messenger?
A Different Perspective
Evaluations can be distorted by focusing on imperfect messengers.
