America Quote by James F. Cooper
“In America the taint of sectarianism lies broad upon the land. Not content with acknowledging the supremacy as the Diety, and with erecting temples in his honor, where all can bow down with reverence, the pride and vanity of human reason enter into and pollute our worship, and the houses that should be of God and for God, alone, where he is to be honored with submissive faith, are too often merely schools of metaphysical and useless distinctions. The nation is sectarian, rather than Christian.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, possibly 19th‑century American commentary
Human pride and rationalism corrupt pure worship, turning sacred spaces into venues for empty philosophical debates.
In simple terms: Pride distorts true faith.
Key Takeaway
Guard humility in worship.
Themes
religion
pride
corruption
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- church services
- public policy debates
- religious education
Key Concepts
theology
humanism
sectarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does intellectualism affect spiritual experience?
- Can faith thrive without rational critique?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the role of cultural tradition in faith practice.
![“Spirituality can be severed from both vicious sectarianism and thoughtless banalities. Spirituality, I have come to see, is nothing less than the thoughtful love of life. [Spirituality for the Skeptic]” quote by Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a2/robert-c-solomon-13743_banality_spirituality-can-be-severed-from-both-vi_28872.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
