Certitude Quote by Jon Meacham
“An unexamined faith is not worth having, for fundamentalism and uncritical certitude entail the rejection of one of the great human gifts: that of free will, of the liberty to make up our own minds based on evidence and tradition and reason.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Soul of America" by Jon Meacham, 2018
Critiques unexamined faith, urging evidence‑based belief and free will.
In simple terms: Question faith without evidence; value free will.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate critical thinking in belief.
Themes
faith
critical thinking
free will
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- religion
- politics
Key Concepts
fundamentalism
evidence
reason
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance faith and reason?
- What evidence guides your beliefs?
A Different Perspective
May alienate devout believers.
![“We [tend to] have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate. We [often feel that we] cannot derive a sense of absolute certitude from anything which has its root in us. The most poignant sense of insecurity comes from standing alone; we are not alone when we imitate.” quote by Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9a/bruce-lee-430_absolutes_we-tend-to-have-more-faith-in-what-we-im_269245.jpg)
