--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion can no longer rest its claims on…" description: "\"Religion can no longer rest its claims on a dogmatic supernaturalism, because any dogma that is irreconcilable with tested knowledge must be rejected....." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/herbert-j-muller-51765_absurdity_religion-can-no-longer-rest-its-claims-o_1691833.jpg" --- # Religion can no longer rest its claims on a dogmatic… ![“Religion can no longer rest its claims on a dogmatic supernaturalism, because any dogma that is irreconcilable with tested knowledge must be rejected... One sentence ... sums up the dark and deadly pages of Chistian history: "If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities."” quote by Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/herbert-j-muller-51765_absurdity_religion-can-no-longer-rest-its-claims-o_1691833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/herbert-j-muller-51765_absurdity_religion-can-no-longer-rest-its-claims-o_1691833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/herbert-j-muller-51765_absurdity_religion-can-no-longer-rest-its-claims-o_1691833.jpg) > “Religion can no longer rest its claims on a dogmatic supernaturalism, because any dogma that is irreconcilable with tested knowledge must be rejected... One sentence ... sums up the dark and deadly pages of Chistian history: "If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities."” [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dogmatic supernatural claims clash with empirical knowledge; rejecting irreconcilable dogma prevents moral catastrophe. **In simple terms:** Rejecting false religious dogma avoids cruelty. Key Takeaway Question and reject beliefs that contradict evidence. Themes religion knowledge ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - policy making - education - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts dogma science morality Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance faith with evidence? - When should tradition yield to science? A Different Perspective Faith can be meaningful without literal supernatural claims. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atrocities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atrocities/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Supernaturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supernaturalism/) ## Related quotes > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Intelligent design theorists have learned a few lessons from the failures of their predecessors and have devised a more sophisticated strategy to compete head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-pennock/intelligent-design-theorists-have-learned-a-few-lessons-from-the/) Robert T. Pennock > [When I'm writing books, something weird happens; and the result is the books contain a large amount of what you could call 'supernaturalism.' As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/when-i-m-writing-books-something-weird-happens-and-the-result-is-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Two fundamental literary qualities: supernaturalism and irony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/two-fundamental-literary-qualities-supernaturalism-and-irony/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [“Each mind conceives god in its own way. There may be as many variation of the god figure as there are people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/each-mind-conceives-god-in-its-own-way-there-may-be-as-many-variation/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-indeed-an-absolute-materialist-so-far-as-actual-belief-goes-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't create unbelief or doubt in people's minds. When you do so you ruin their lives and you have nothing to give them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/don-t-create-unbelief-or-doubt-in-people-s-minds-when-you-do-so-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“At the same time, we may not as a culture be fond of old-fashioned supernaturalism, but we certainly like spirituality in whatever form we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/at-the-same-time-we-may-not-as-a-culture-be-fond-of-old-fashioned/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“When scientists are unable to explain a certain phenomenon, it does not prove that the phenomenon belongs in the paranormal domain. It means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-scientists-are-unable-to-explain-a-certain-phenomenon-it-does/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“There are many people, many worlds who believe in supernaturalism in one form or another... religion, if you like the word better. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-people-many-worlds-who-believe-in-supernaturalism-in/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Once you believe that god is not a private property of anybody, you are on your way to becoming a new messiah. Maybe your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-believe-that-god-is-not-a-private-property-of-anybody-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [The idea that human-transforming technology that mingles the dna of natural and synthetic beings and merges man with machines could somehow be used or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-horn/the-idea-that-human-transforming-technology-that-mingles-the-dna-of/) [Thomas Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-horn/) > [“Common people tend to term any kind of bizarre phenomenon as “paranormal” or “supernatural”. They often exaggerate it as the work of the Gods.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/common-people-tend-to-term-any-kind-of-bizarre-phenomenon-as/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“No knowledge comes from the outside world or an imaginary supernatural paradise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-knowledge-comes-from-the-outside-world-or-an-imaginary/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“There is nothing behind the curtains of religions, people put there whatever their imaginations can fathom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/there-is-nothing-behind-the-curtains-of-religions-people-put-there/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) ## More by Herbert J. Muller > [Businessmen are notable for a peculiarly stalwart character, which enables them to enjoy without loss of self-reliance the benefits of tariffs, franchises, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/businessmen-are-notable-for-a-peculiarly-stalwart-character-which/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) > [It has become too easy to see that the luckless men of the past lived by mistakes, even absurd beliefs, so we may well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/it-has-become-too-easy-to-see-that-the-luckless-men-of-the-past-lived/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) > [The First Crusade ... set off on its two-thousand-mile jaunt by massacring Jews, plundering and slaughtering all the way from the Rhine to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/the-first-crusade-set-off-on-its-two-thousand-mile-jaunt-by/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) > [Science remains the author of our major problem, in its gift of tremendous power that has been terribly abused; but for the wise use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/science-remains-the-author-of-our-major-problem-in-its-gift-of/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) > [The sense of community is indispensable...to full self-realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/the-sense-of-community-is-indispensable-to-full-self-realization/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) > [Few have heard of Fra Luca Pacioli, the inventor of double-entry bookkeeping; but he has probably had much more influence on human life than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/few-have-heard-of-fra-luca-pacioli-the-inventor-of-double-entry/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) [Explore all 7 Herbert J. Muller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) ## More Absurdity quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) Wendy Farley > [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [“Christianity would be helpless without the idea of free will and the idea of free will would be helpless without incongruity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/christianity-would-be-helpless-without-the-idea-of-free-will-and-the/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The tales of our exploits will survive as long as the human voice itself,' he said. 'And even after that, when the robots recall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-tales-of-our-exploits-will-survive-as-long-as-the-human-voice/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Life packed a clever one-two punch: cruelty and absurdity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/life-packed-a-clever-one-two-punch-cruelty-and-absurdity/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) [Browse all 689 Absurdity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religion can no longer rest its claims on a dogmatic supernaturalism, because any dogma that is irreconcilable with tested knowledge must be rejected... 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