---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think religion is very anti-man. I…"
description: "\"I think religion is very anti-man. I think it's a terrible distortion and exploitation of a very natural urge every human has - to be rejoined with the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg"
---

#  I think religion is very anti-man. I think it's a terrible…

![“I think religion is very anti-man. I think it's a terrible distortion and exploitation of a very natural urge every human has - to be rejoined with the one somehow, to become a part of the universe. Once the high priests and the traders took over, we were lost as a species.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg)

> “I think religion is very anti-man. I think it's a terrible distortion and exploitation of a very natural urge every human has - to be rejoined with the one somehow, to become a part of the universe. Once the high priests and the traders took over, we were lost as a species.”

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## 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 portrayed as a distortion of a natural human yearning for connection, corrupted by institutions.

**In simple terms:** Religion distorts a natural desire for unity.

Key Takeaway

Question institutional influence on spirituality.

Themes

religion human nature institutional critique spirituality history

Mood

critical humorous

Type

philosophical social

When to use this quote

- faith
- community
- personal belief

Key Concepts

philosophy sociology cultural criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives the human urge for transcendence?
- How do institutions shape spiritual experiences?

A Different Perspective

Institutional religion can provide community support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Distortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distortion/) [Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploitation/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Traders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traders/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't believe in anti-anything. A man has to have a program; you have to be for something. Otherwise, you will never get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-don-t-believe-in-anti-anything-a-man-has-to-have-a-program-you-have/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [You don't have to be anti-man to be pro-woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-galvin-lewis/you-don-t-have-to-be-anti-man-to-be-pro-woman/)

Jane Galvin Lewis

> [“I'm not anti-religion. I'm anti-maniac.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-m-not-anti-religion-i-m-anti-maniac/)

[Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/)

> [One of the big conversations I'm trying to have onstage right now is that to be pro-woman, you don't have to be anti-man. Saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-cummings/one-of-the-big-conversations-i-m-trying-to-have-onstage-right-now-is/)

[Whitney Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-cummings/)

> [I don't want to say I drank the Kool-Aid because I'm definitely not religious and I don't buy into any religion at all. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/i-don-t-want-to-say-i-drank-the-kool-aid-because-i-m-definitely-not/)

[Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/)

> [Religion has ever been anti-human, anti-woman, anti-life, anti-peace, anti-reason and anti-science. The god idea has been detrimental not only to humankind but to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/religion-has-ever-been-anti-human-anti-woman-anti-life-anti-peace/)

[Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/)

> [It's not that I'm anti-religion. I'm anti any religion that doesn't practice the core, which is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-panozzo/it-s-not-that-i-m-anti-religion-i-m-anti-any-religion-that-doesn-t/)

[Chuck Panozzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-panozzo/)

> [I believe that I have been basically anarchistic, anti-religion and anti-industry and business. In other words, anti-bureaucracy. I would like to see people behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-believe-that-i-have-been-basically-anarchistic-anti-religion-and/)

[B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/)

> [Once the high priests and the traders took over, we were lost as a species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/once-the-high-priests-and-the-traders-took-over-we-were-lost-as-a/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Art, music, and philosophy are merely poignant examples of what we might have been had not the priests and traders gotten hold of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/art-music-and-philosophy-are-merely-poignant-examples-of-what-we/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [We are a nation that is unenlightened because of religion. I do believe that. I think religion stops people from thinking. I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/we-are-a-nation-that-is-unenlightened-because-of-religion-i-do/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [I think religion is bad and drugs are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-think-religion-is-bad-and-drugs-are-good/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [We grew up going to church, and I believe in God. I don't know that I have the ability to define what or who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/we-grew-up-going-to-church-and-i-believe-in-god-i-don-t-know-that-i/)

[Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/)

> [I think religion is a gateway for spiritual awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-think-religion-is-a-gateway-for-spiritual-awakening/)

[Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/)

> [I think religion is a funny thing because, when you see somebody who can really break it down, sometimes it feels foolish what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-think-religion-is-a-funny-thing-because-when-you-see-somebody-who/)

[Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/)

## More by George Carlin

> [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

[Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## More Anti quotes

> [“Our real self is under siege by our anti-self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-firestone/our-real-self-is-under-siege-by-our-anti-self/)

[Lisa Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-firestone/)

> [I think some people think I'm, like, anti-label, and I'm not. I just wanted to sign a deal when the time was right. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/i-think-some-people-think-i-m-like-anti-label-and-i-m-not-i-just/)

[Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/)

> [I was involved in the anti-war movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-was-involved-in-the-anti-war-movement/)

[Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/)

> [Make no mistake about those who call themselves anti Zionist are anti Semitic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/make-no-mistake-about-those-who-call-themselves-anti-zionist-are-anti/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [“Why is the truth usually not just un- but anti-interesting?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/why-is-the-truth-usually-not-just-un-but-anti-interesting/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [You don't have to be anti-man to be pro-woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-galvin-lewis/you-don-t-have-to-be-anti-man-to-be-pro-woman/)

Jane Galvin Lewis

> [You can't be pro-labor and anti-business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-schilling/you-can-t-be-pro-labor-and-anti-business/)

[Bobby Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-schilling/)

> [I always have my anti-germ-y wipes, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/i-always-have-my-anti-germ-y-wipes-always/)

[Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/)

> [“I don't think I'm anti-social. I just like to be alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gin-getz/i-don-t-think-i-m-anti-social-i-just-like-to-be-alone/)

Gin Getz

> [I used to be very anti-bath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-used-to-be-very-anti-bath/)

[Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/)

> [There are those who would say that those who are for two states and dividing Jerusalem are anti-Israel. In that case then, I'm anti-Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-saban/there-are-those-who-would-say-that-those-who-are-for-two-states-and/)

[Haim Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-saban/)

> [“He wasn't anti-gun really—he just wasn't pro-being-shot-at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-p-knave/he-wasn-t-anti-gun-really-he-just-wasn-t-pro-being-shot-at/)

[Adam P. Knave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-p-knave/)

> [I'm anti-tax, but I'm pro-carbon tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-m-anti-tax-but-i-m-pro-carbon-tax/)

[Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/)

> [There was no reason to label us as anti-Semitic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marie-le-pen/there-was-no-reason-to-label-us-as-anti-semitic/)

[Jean-Marie Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marie-le-pen/)

> [You know, I was a school rebel. Whatever they said do, I didn't do. I was totally anti-everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/you-know-i-was-a-school-rebel-whatever-they-said-do-i-didn-t-do-i-was/)

[Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/)

Browse all 193 Anti quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think religion is very anti-man. I think it's a terrible distortion and exploitation of a very natural urge every human has - to be rejoined with the one somehow, to become a part of the universe. Once the high priests and the traders took over, we were lost as a species.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Carlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-think-it-s-a-terrible-distortion/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anti"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-think-it-s-a-terrible-distortion/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/george-carlin-155_anti_i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-thin_2745040.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think religion is very anti-man. I think it's a terrible distortion and exploitation of a very natural…” — George Carlin",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George Carlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think religion is very anti-man....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-think-it-s-a-terrible-distortion/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-think-religion-is-very-anti-man-i-think-it-s-a-terrible-distortion/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
