--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The objective of our religious…" description: "\"The objective of our religious foundations is to teach people that they are hurting themselves when they say they believe something. What we should rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg" --- # The objective of our religious foundations is to teach… ![“The objective of our religious foundations is to teach people that they are hurting themselves when they say they believe something. What we should realize is we know almost nothing about God and therefore we should be eager to search and to learn.” quote by John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg) > “The objective of our religious foundations is to teach people that they are hurting themselves when they say they believe something. What we should realize is we know almost nothing about God and therefore we should be eager to search and to learn.” [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges humility about religious certainty, emphasizing that belief can cause self‑harm and that true wisdom comes from acknowledging ignorance and seeking knowledge. **In simple terms:** Recognize limits of belief; pursue learning. Key Takeaway Question assumptions; stay curious. Themes humility faith knowledge inquiry Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - interfaith dialogue - academic study - spiritual exploration Key Concepts epistemology religious skepticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle doubt in faith? - What steps can you take to learn beyond your assumptions? A Different Perspective Belief without doubt can close minds; openness is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundations Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundations-teach-2266384/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Know God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-god/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Objective Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objective-religious-2266383/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Foundations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-foundations-1330198/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) ## Related quotes > [The success of the West, including the rise of science, rested entirely on religious foundations, and the people who brought it about were devout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/the-success-of-the-west-including-the-rise-of-science-rested-entirely/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [If we want to understand the distinctive constitution of Europe, we must go back to its religious foundations. For the moral beliefs which Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-siedentop/if-we-want-to-understand-the-distinctive-constitution-of-europe-we/) [Larry Siedentop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-siedentop/) > [The religious foundations of America have been completely expurgated from our history textbooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-james-kennedy/the-religious-foundations-of-america-have-been-completely-expurgated/) [D. James Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-james-kennedy/) > [...Making people get over the concept that they've got the total proof. To get them to feel, 'Gee, I want to learn more. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/making-people-get-over-the-concept-that-they-ve-got-the-total-proof/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [If you buy all the stocks selling at or below two times earnings, you will lose money on half of them because instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/if-you-buy-all-the-stocks-selling-at-or-below-two-times-earnings-you/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [In my 45-year career as an investment counselor, humility did show me the need for worldwide diversification to reduce risk. That career did help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/in-my-45-year-career-as-an-investment-counselor-humility-did-show-me/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The other boys at Yale came from wealthy families, and none of them were investing outside the United States, and I thought, 'That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-other-boys-at-yale-came-from-wealthy-families-and-none-of-them/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The idea that an individual can find God is terribly self-centered. It is like a wave thinking it can find the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-idea-that-an-individual-can-find-god-is-terribly-self-centered-it/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Suppose you went to your priest and asked for help; he would refer you to the Bible. But if you went the next day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/suppose-you-went-to-your-priest-and-asked-for-help-he-would-refer-you/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/anybody-who-had-come-up-with-a-new-concept-would-have-been-under/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church - I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-have-no-quarrel-with-what-i-learned-in-the-presbyterian-church-i-am/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [We should bathe our spirits in the deep, pure feeling that stirs within us when we gaze on the glories of His creation. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/we-should-bathe-our-spirits-in-the-deep-pure-feeling-that-stirs/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“We must, however, urge it as a matter of the highest import, to cease from self-action and self-exertion, that God himself may act alone:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-guyon/we-must-however-urge-it-as-a-matter-of-the-highest-import-to-cease/) [Madame Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-guyon/) > [“You never know why God has you move the way He does. You should just listen when He tells you to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacinta-howard/you-never-know-why-god-has-you-move-the-way-he-does-you-should-just/) [Jacinta Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacinta-howard/) ## More by John Templeton > [An attitude of gratitude creates blessings. Help yourself by helping others. You have the most powerful weapons on earth - love and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/an-attitude-of-gratitude-creates-blessings-help-yourself-by-helping/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [...Making people get over the concept that they've got the total proof. To get them to feel, 'Gee, I want to learn more. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/making-people-get-over-the-concept-that-they-ve-got-the-total-proof/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church - I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-have-no-quarrel-with-what-i-learned-in-the-presbyterian-church-i-am/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/anybody-who-had-come-up-with-a-new-concept-would-have-been-under/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Suppose you went to your priest and asked for help; he would refer you to the Bible. But if you went the next day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/suppose-you-went-to-your-priest-and-asked-for-help-he-would-refer-you/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Help yourself by helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/help-yourself-by-helping-others/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many media commercials encourage us to believe that if we buy a certain product, we can be physically appealing, or popular, or successful. According…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-media-commercials-encourage-us-to-believe-that-if-we-buy-a/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The idea that an individual can find God is terribly self-centered. It is like a wave thinking it can find the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-idea-that-an-individual-can-find-god-is-terribly-self-centered-it/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I never ask if the market is going to go up or down because I don't know, and besides it doesn't matter. I search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-never-ask-if-the-market-is-going-to-go-up-or-down-because-i-don-t/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many of us understand giving, but some of us may still be confused about the meaning of forgiveness. Some people may go through life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-of-us-understand-giving-but-some-of-us-may-still-be-confused/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Not yet have I found any better method to prosper during the future financial chaos, which is likely to last many years, than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/not-yet-have-i-found-any-better-method-to-prosper-during-the-future/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The best investment with the least risk and the greatest dividend is giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-best-investment-with-the-least-risk-and-the-greatest-dividend-is/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [True peace is a quality you carry within yourself, regardless of external circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/true-peace-is-a-quality-you-carry-within-yourself-regardless-of/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The other boys at Yale came from wealthy families, and none of them were investing outside the United States, and I thought, 'That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-other-boys-at-yale-came-from-wealthy-families-and-none-of-them/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) [Explore all 125 John Templeton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The objective of our religious foundations is to teach people that they are hurting themselves when they say they believe something. What we should realize is we know almost nothing about God and therefore we should be eager to search and to learn.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Templeton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-objective-of-our-religious-foundations-is-to-teach-people-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-objective-of-our-religious-foundations-is-to-teach-people-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/john-templeton-3668_believe_the-objective-of-our-religious-foundatio_1019847.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The objective of our religious foundations is to teach people that they are hurting themselves when they say…” — John Templeton", "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": "John Templeton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The objective of our religious foundations...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-objective-of-our-religious-foundations-is-to-teach-people-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-objective-of-our-religious-foundations-is-to-teach-people-that/#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 } } ] } ```