--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For most people, religion is nothing more…" description: "\"For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. If people need religion, ignore them and maybe they will ignore..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/gene-roddenberry-8483_boards_for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more_506225.jpg" --- # For most people, religion is nothing more than a… ![“For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. If people need religion, ignore them and maybe they will ignore you, and you can go on with your life. It wasn't until I was beginning to do Star Trek that the subject of religion arose. What brought it up was…” quote by Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/gene-roddenberry-8483_boards_for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more_506225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/gene-roddenberry-8483_boards_for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more_506225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/gene-roddenberry-8483_boards_for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more_506225.jpg) > “For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. If people need religion, ignore them and maybe they will ignore you, and you can go on with your life. It wasn't until I was beginning to do Star Trek that the subject of religion arose. What brought it up was that people were saying that I would have a chaplain on board the Enterprise. I replied, "No, we don't.” [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion is presented as a coping mechanism for cognitive discomfort; the speaker suggests ignoring those who rely on it to preserve personal peace. **In simple terms:** Religion as a brain fix; ignore to stay calm. Key Takeaway Ignore religious arguments to protect your mental space. Themes religion coping personal boundaries skepticism Mood skeptical detached pragmatic Type philosophical social When to use this quote - debates on faith - personal relationships - workplace discussions - online forums - family gatherings Key Concepts cognitive dissonance psychology social interaction Questions to Reflect On - Do you think ignoring religious views helps or harms relationships? - When is it appropriate to engage versus disengage? A Different Perspective Not all religious people need be ignored; empathy may yield better dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Chaplains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaplains/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more-than-a-substitute-for-a-2/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [Nothing so tends to mask the face of God as religion; it can be a substitute for God himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/nothing-so-tends-to-mask-the-face-of-god-as-religion-it-can-be-a/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [It will not do to investigate the subject of religion too closely, as it is apt to lead to infidelity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-will-not-do-to-investigate-the-subject-of-religion-too-closely-as/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [No power of government ought to be employed in the endeavor to establish any system or article of belief on the subject of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/no-power-of-government-ought-to-be-employed-in-the-endeavor-to/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-alleged-by-men-of-loose-principles-or-defective-views-of-the-2/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [I do not understand those who take little or no interest in the subject of religion. If religion embodies a truth, it is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/i-do-not-understand-those-who-take-little-or-no-interest-in-the/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [“God is not subject to religion. Religion is subject to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/god-is-not-subject-to-religion-religion-is-subject-to-god/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [There is one subject in religion, about which you can never know too much. That subject is Jesus Christ the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/there-is-one-subject-in-religion-about-which-you-can-never-know-too/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. 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Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Let vice and immorality of every kind be discouraged as much as possible in your brigade; and, as a chaplain is allowed to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/let-vice-and-immorality-of-every-kind-be-discouraged-as-much-as/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [There's a Chaplain who never visited the front.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-s-a-chaplain-who-never-visited-the-front/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [He that preaches war is the devil's chaplain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/he-that-preaches-war-is-the-devil-s-chaplain/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. 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