Ancient Quote by Gustave Le Bon
“If atheism spread, it would become a religion as intolerable as the ancient ones.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, Gustave Le Bon, 1895
If atheism becomes widespread, it may turn into a dogmatic belief system resembling traditional religions in its intolerance.
In simple terms: Widespread atheism could become intolerant like old religions.
Key Takeaway
Beware of dogma in any belief.
Themes
tolerance
belief
society
dogma
religion
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
cautionary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- community building
- education curricula
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Secularism
group psychology
ideology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we keep secular ideas open?
- What safeguards prevent any belief from becoming dogmatic?
A Different Perspective
Even secular ideas can become rigid and exclusionary.
![“I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. They are the most glorious nation…” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e34/john-adams-529_affair_i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contribut_104004.jpg)
![“To the Jacobins of this epoch [the French Revolution], as well as to those of our times, this popular entity constitutes a superior personality possessing attributes peculiar to the gods of never having to answer for their actions and never making a mistake. Their wishes must be humbly acceded to…” quote by Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb6/gustave-le-bon-10163_character_to-the-jacobins-of-this-epoch-the-french_220492.jpg)
