--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole foundation of Christianity is…" description: "\"The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea that intellectualism is the work of the Devil. Remember the apple on the tree? Okay, it was t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/frank-zappa-702_apples_the-whole-foundation-of-christianity-is_705270.jpg" --- # The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea… ![“The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea that intellectualism is the work of the Devil. Remember the apple on the tree? Okay, it was the Tree of Knowledge. You eat this apple, you're going to be as smart as God. We can't have that.” quote by Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/frank-zappa-702_apples_the-whole-foundation-of-christianity-is_705270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/frank-zappa-702_apples_the-whole-foundation-of-christianity-is_705270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/frank-zappa-702_apples_the-whole-foundation-of-christianity-is_705270.jpg) > “The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea that intellectualism is the work of the Devil. Remember the apple on the tree? Okay, it was the Tree of Knowledge. You eat this apple, you're going to be as smart as God. We can't have that.” [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Zappa claims Christianity views intellectual pursuit as sinful, equating knowledge with devilry and warning against overreaching human wisdom. **In simple terms:** Christianity allegedly condemns intellectualism as devilish. Key Takeaway Question authority, value critical thinking. Themes religion intellectualism authority freedom Mood skeptical provocative Type critical controversial When to use this quote - academic research - personal belief - public discourse - education reform Key Concepts theology philosophy politics Questions to Reflect On - Do you think any faith truly opposes knowledge? - How does power shape religious narratives? A Different Perspective Zappa’s view is a provocative exaggeration, not a universal doctrine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-based-429265/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-christianity-3060919/) [Idea Intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-intellectualism-4459185/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectualism/) [Intellectualism Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectualism-work-5574773/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Tree of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree-of-knowledge/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Okay, it was the Tree of Knowledge. "You eat this apple; you're going to be as smart as God." We can't have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/okay-it-was-the-tree-of-knowledge-you-eat-this-apple-you-re-going-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“One of the things that school is for is to teach our children to understand and relish the idea of intellectualism, to develop into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-of-the-things-that-school-is-for-is-to-teach-our-children-to/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Jesus means something to our world because a mighty spiritual force streams forth from him and flows through our being also. This fact can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/jesus-means-something-to-our-world-because-a-mighty-spiritual-force/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I came to America at the age of 17 as an exchange student, and a year later, I was a student at Dartmouth. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/i-came-to-america-at-the-age-of-17-as-an-exchange-student-and-a-year/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [The essence of Christianity is told us in the Garden of Eden history. The fruit that was forbidden was on the tree of knowledge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-essence-of-christianity-is-told-us-in-the-garden-of-eden-history/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“The essence of Christianity is told us in the Garden of Eden history. The fruit that was forbidden was on the tree of knowledge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-essence-of-christianity-is-told-us-in-the-garden-of-eden-history-2/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Take, say, the solidarity movement in Central America, which I think is what you probably had in mind. To a large extent, it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/take-say-the-solidarity-movement-in-central-america-which-i-think-is/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Real Christianity is based upon God's word given to us through the scriptures, and His word is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/real-christianity-is-based-upon-god-s-word-given-to-us-through-the/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [From the 3rd century onwards, orthodox Christianity, based on a Hebrew story and worshipping the Jew Jesus, also led many campaigns of anti-Semitism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivor-grattan-guinness/from-the-3rd-century-onwards-orthodox-christianity-based-on-a-hebrew/) [Ivor Grattan-Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivor-grattan-guinness/) > [In full view of his television audience, he preached a new religion -- or a new form of Christianity -- based on faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-full-view-of-his-television-audience-he-preached-a-new-religion-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it's important to remember that Christianity was based in love and tolerance and forgiveness and acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chenoweth/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-that-christianity-was-based-in/) [Kristin Chenoweth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-chenoweth/) > [The juice goes out of Christianity when it becomes too based on faith rather than on living like Jesus or seeing the world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-juice-goes-out-of-christianity-when-it-becomes-too-based-on-faith-2/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The real evidence is not practically speaking in scholarship but in how Jesus and the Christianity based on him manifest themselves in the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/the-real-evidence-is-not-practically-speaking-in-scholarship-but-in/) [Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/) > [“The juice goes out of Christianity when it becomes too based on faith rather than on living like Jesus or seeing the world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-juice-goes-out-of-christianity-when-it-becomes-too-based-on-faith/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [Christianity is based on a book. It centers in a Person. It expresses itself in a message. It authenticates itself in an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/christianity-is-based-on-a-book-it-centers-in-a-person-it-expresses/) [J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/) ## More by Frank Zappa > [If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/if-you-want-to-get-laid-go-to-college-if-you-want-an-education-go-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [While your children are sleeping, your puppy is crappin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/while-your-children-are-sleeping-your-puppy-is-crappin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Very few people do covers of my tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/very-few-people-do-covers-of-my-tunes/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Government is the Entertainment division of the military-industrial complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/government-is-the-entertainment-division-of-the-military-industrial/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Do your job and do it right, life's a ball, TV tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/do-your-job-and-do-it-right-life-s-a-ball-tv-tonight/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Fact of the matter is, there is no hip world, there is no straight world. There's a world, you see which has people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/fact-of-the-matter-is-there-is-no-hip-world-there-is-no-straight/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Broken hearts are for assholes, are you an asshole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/broken-hearts-are-for-assholes-are-you-an-asshole/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Anyone who is disturbed by the idea of newts in a nightclub is potentially dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/anyone-who-is-disturbed-by-the-idea-of-newts-in-a-nightclub-is/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-bigger-the-cushion-the-better-the-pushin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Give me the enchilada with the pickle sauce shoved up between the donkey's ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/give-me-the-enchilada-with-the-pickle-sauce-shoved-up-between-the/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Sit and spin 'til you rot on the cosmic utensil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/sit-and-spin-til-you-rot-on-the-cosmic-utensil/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [To me absurdity is the only reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/to-me-absurdity-is-the-only-reality/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Is this something new, having people stomp on you? Is it what I need to do for your pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/is-this-something-new-having-people-stomp-on-you-is-it-what-i-need-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/look-here-brother-who-you-jivin-with-that-cosmik-debris/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) [Explore all 400 Frank Zappa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) ## More Apples quotes > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) [Horace Dediu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-dediu/) > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Therein lies the rub of a place like Berkeley Bowl. You get seduced by an 11-pound apple that turns out to be a fake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jad-abumrad/therein-lies-the-rub-of-a-place-like-berkeley-bowl-you-get-seduced-by/) [Jad Abumrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jad-abumrad/) > [Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/now-it-is-autumn-and-the-falling-fruit-and-the-long-journey-towards/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead; ask about the scale of their dreams -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of-2/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) [Browse all 1,262 Apples quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea that intellectualism is the work of the Devil. Remember the apple on the tree? Okay, it was the Tree of Knowledge. You eat this apple, you're going to be as smart as God. 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