--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether one believes or not, religion is…" description: "\"Whether one believes or not, religion is as real a force in the life of the world as economics or politics, and it demands fair-minded attention. Even ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/jon-meacham-2863_attention_whether-one-believes-or-not-religion-is_2770131.jpg" --- # Whether one believes or not, religion is as real a force… ![“Whether one believes or not, religion is as real a force in the life of the world as economics or politics, and it demands fair-minded attention. Even if you think the entire religious enterprise is at best misguided and at worst counterproductive, it remains vital, inspiring great good and…” quote by Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/jon-meacham-2863_attention_whether-one-believes-or-not-religion-is_2770131.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/jon-meacham-2863_attention_whether-one-believes-or-not-religion-is_2770131.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/jon-meacham-2863_attention_whether-one-believes-or-not-religion-is_2770131.jpg) > “Whether one believes or not, religion is as real a force in the life of the world as economics or politics, and it demands fair-minded attention. Even if you think the entire religious enterprise is at best misguided and at worst counterproductive, it remains vital, inspiring great good and, sometimes, great evil.” [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion, economics, and politics are powerful forces demanding balanced attention. **In simple terms:** Religion is a strong societal force. Key Takeaway Consider all forces in analysis. Themes society power balance Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy - culture - ethics Key Concepts religion economics politics Questions to Reflect On - How do you fairly evaluate religious influence? - What methods separate good from evil? A Different Perspective Bias can cloud judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Anyone who believes in religion, incarcerating animals or theories not based in fact might think a coherent conversation can be had on both sides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunther-boccius/anyone-who-believes-in-religion-incarcerating-animals-or-theories-not/) Gunther Boccius > [A true believer is not the one who believes in what his religion says, but the one who believes in what humankind says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-true-believer-is-not-the-one-who-believes-in-what-his-religion-says/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Two visions of the world remain locked in dispute. The first believes all men are created equal by a loving God who has blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/two-visions-of-the-world-remain-locked-in-dispute-the-first-believes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Whether one believes in a religion or not & whether one believes in rebirth or not there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-one-believes-in-a-religion-or-not-whether-one-believes-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/whether-one-believes-in-a-religion-or-not-and-whether-one-believes-in/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [But even in the Christian religion, much of its real meaning is hidden by words that are misleading and symbols that but few understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/but-even-in-the-christian-religion-much-of-its-real-meaning-is-hidden/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [ “That which takes one from the wrong to the right, is not wrong \[religion\]; but real religion is to come into Your own nature… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/that-which-takes-one-from-the-wrong-to-the-right-is-not-wrong/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The only difference between a cult and a religion is the amount of real estate they own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-only-difference-between-a-cult-and-a-religion-is-the-amount-of/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Nobody loves a good worship service more than I do, but we are called to make religion real, to make our faith come alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fuller/nobody-loves-a-good-worship-service-more-than-i-do-but-we-are-called/) [Millard Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fuller/) > [I chose not to jump into the media frenzy and defend myself, though I was begged to be on every single TV show in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-chose-not-to-jump-into-the-media-frenzy-and-defend-myself-though-i/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [The pioneers and missionaries of religion have been the real cause of more trouble and war than all other classes of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/the-pioneers-and-missionaries-of-religion-have-been-the-real-cause-of/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“Whether Jewish or Christian, our religions have stressed too strongly the strictly historical aspect, so that we are, so to say, in worship of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/whether-jewish-or-christian-our-religions-have-stressed-too-strongly/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Art is not a substitute religion: it is a religion (in the true sense of the word: 'binding back', 'binding' to the unknowable, transcending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-is-not-a-substitute-religion-it-is-a-religion-in-the-true-sense/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Atheism, not religion, is the real force behind the mass murders of history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/atheism-not-religion-is-the-real-force-behind-the-mass-murders-of/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [Even though I have never had an abrupt conversion experience, religion has been real to me and closely knitted to life. In fact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/even-though-i-have-never-had-an-abrupt-conversion-experience-religion/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Jon Meacham > [Scripture is not inerrant; believers are called to interpret biblical texts in light of tradition and reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/scripture-is-not-inerrant-believers-are-called-to-interpret-biblical/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [As a southerner born after the epic events of the civil rights movement, I've always wondered how on earth people of good will could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/as-a-southerner-born-after-the-epic-events-of-the-civil-rights/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [We are now living in a post-Roosevelt, post-Reagan universe. What comes next will not be post-partisan, because faction is an intrinsic human impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/we-are-now-living-in-a-post-roosevelt-post-reagan-universe-what-comes/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“his other hand. Sensitive to his guest’s affliction, Churchill realized that “every step” was”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/his-other-hand-sensitive-to-his-guest-s-affliction-churchill-realized/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Too many activists have convinced themselves that they have a monopoly on truth. A little humility and a sense of history could move us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/too-many-activists-have-convinced-themselves-that-they-have-a/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [In the fullness of time, I suspect that bigotry against homosexuals will seem as repugnant as racial prejudice does today. Or so one hopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/in-the-fullness-of-time-i-suspect-that-bigotry-against-homosexuals/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Mysteries and thrillers are not the same things, though they are literary siblings. Roughly put, I would say the distinction is that mysteries emphasize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/mysteries-and-thrillers-are-not-the-same-things-though-they-are/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“When Lincoln was running for the House of Representatives from Illinois, he was charged with being “a scoffer at religion,” wrote the historian William…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/when-lincoln-was-running-for-the-house-of-representatives-from/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“The Man who has not Music in his Soul, Or is not touch’d with Concord of sweet Sounds, Is fit for Treason, Stratagems, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/the-man-who-has-not-music-in-his-soul-or-is-not-touch-d-with-concord/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [I am an Episcopalian who takes the faith of my fathers seriously, and I would, I think, be disheartened if my own young children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/i-am-an-episcopalian-who-takes-the-faith-of-my-fathers-seriously-and/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Only the most unapologetic biblical fundamentalists, for instance, take every biblical injunction literally. If we all took all scripture at the same level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/only-the-most-unapologetic-biblical-fundamentalists-for-instance-take/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“There was, of course, a more immediate point to frequent gatherings of lawmakers, diplomats, and cabinet officers at the president’s table. It tends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/there-was-of-course-a-more-immediate-point-to-frequent-gatherings-of/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“For Jefferson, William and Mary was largely about what university life is supposed to be about: reading books, enjoying the company of like-minded, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/for-jefferson-william-and-mary-was-largely-about-what-university-life/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [One wonders whether the Obama re-election campaign may be on the right track as it seeks to apply the you-break-it-you-own-it rule to Bush and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/one-wonders-whether-the-obama-re-election-campaign-may-be-on-the/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Reagan is the Republican FDR, an exemplar of presidential greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/reagan-is-the-republican-fdr-an-exemplar-of-presidential-greatness/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) [Explore all 146 Jon Meacham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. 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