Anti-science Quote by Joseph Campbell
““One of the most interesting histories of what comes of rejecting science we may see in Islam, which in the beginning received, accepted, and even developed the classical legacy. For some five or six rich centuries there is an impressive Islamic record of scientific thought, experiment, and research, particularly in medicine. But then, alas! the authority of the general community, the Sunna, the consensus—which Mohammed the Prophet had declared would always be right—cracked down. The Word of God in the Koran was the only source and vehicle of truth. Scientific thought led to 'loss of belief in the origin of the world and in the Creator.' And so it was that, just when the light of Greek learning was beginning to be carried from Islam to Europe—from circa 1100 onward—Islamic science and medicine came to a standstill and went dead…””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell, 1988
The quote warns that when religious authority suppresses scientific inquiry, progress stalls and knowledge declines.
In simple terms: Suppressing science leads to cultural decline.
Key Takeaway
Protect open inquiry and critical thinking.
Themes
science
religion
history
knowledge
authority
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
historical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy making
- education reform
- public discourse
Key Concepts
intellectual freedom
cultural stagnation
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance tradition with scientific advancement?
- What mechanisms protect science from ideological suppression?
A Different Perspective
Religious doctrine can resist change and hinder progress.
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
