Accepting Quote by John Fowles
“Whatever sympathy I feel towards religions, whatever admiration for some of their adherents, whatever historical or biological necessity I see in them, whatever metaphorical truth, I cannot accept them as credible explanations of reality; and they are incredible to me in proportion to the degree that they require my belief in positive human attributes and intervenient powers in their divinities.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The French Lieutenant’s Woman, 1969
The speaker doubts religious explanations, seeing them as metaphorical but not factual, and questions the need for belief in divine attributes.
In simple terms: Religion is seen as metaphor, not literal truth.
Key Takeaway
Question the basis of belief systems.
Themes
philosophy
religion
skepticism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal reflection
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical discussions
Key Concepts
metaphor
belief
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a belief system credible?
- Can metaphorical truths guide behavior?
A Different Perspective
Religious narratives can offer moral value despite factual doubts.
![“Whilst writing all this, I have had in my mind a woman, whose strong and serious mind would not have failed to support me in these contentions. I lost her thirty years ago [I was a child then]--nevertheless, ever living in my memory, she follows me from age to age. She suffered with me in my…” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3dc/samuel-smiles-2037_life-lessons_whilst-writing-all-this-i-have-had-in-my_2508705.jpg)
