--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the great disadvantages of a…" description: "\"One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural tradition like the biblical one is that a deity or context of deities becomes crystallized, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/joseph-campbell-300_accounts_one-of-the-great-disadvantages-of-a-lite_1241196.jpg" --- # One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural… ![“One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural tradition like the biblical one is that a deity or context of deities becomes crystallized, petrified at a certain time and place. The deity doesn’t continue to grow, expand, or take into account new cultural forces and new realizations in…” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/joseph-campbell-300_accounts_one-of-the-great-disadvantages-of-a-lite_1241196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/joseph-campbell-300_accounts_one-of-the-great-disadvantages-of-a-lite_1241196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/joseph-campbell-300_accounts_one-of-the-great-disadvantages-of-a-lite_1241196.jpg) > “One of the great disadvantages of a literary or scriptural tradition like the biblical one is that a deity or context of deities becomes crystallized, petrified at a certain time and place. The deity doesn’t continue to grow, expand, or take into account new cultural forces and new realizations in the sciences, and the result is this make-believe conflict we have in our culture between science and religion.” [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious traditions can become rigid, making it hard to reconcile with evolving scientific understanding. **In simple terms:** Religion can become fixed, clashing with new science. Key Takeaway Encourage flexible, evolving spiritual perspectives. Themes religion science culture tradition Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - education reform - personal belief reassessment - public policy Key Concepts theology epistemology cognitive rigidity Questions to Reflect On - How can traditions adapt without losing identity? - What role should science play in faith? A Different Perspective Some may view flexibility as diluting core faith values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Deities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deities/) [Make believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-believe/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science and religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-and-religion/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [“One of the disadvantages of literary awards is the fact that authors are writing to please a book award committee, rather than to spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/one-of-the-disadvantages-of-literary-awards-is-the-fact-that-authors/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [It is in human nature to relax, when not compelled by personal advantage or disadvantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-in-human-nature-to-relax-when-not-compelled-by-personal/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-disadvantage-of-men-not-knowing-the-past-is-that-they-do-not-know/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [The disadvantage of working over networks is that you can't so easily go into someone else's office and rip their bloody heart out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcdonald/the-disadvantage-of-working-over-networks-is-that-you-can-t-so-easily/) Jim McDonald > [September could see it. She did not know what is was she saw. That is the disadvantage of being a heroine, rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-could-see-it-she-did-not-know-what-is-was-she-saw-that-is/) [Catherynne M. 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Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/we-are-lagging-far-behind-comparable-countries-in-overcoming-the/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [Let us consider under what disadvantages Science has hitherto labored before we pronounce thus confidently on her progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/let-us-consider-under-what-disadvantages-science-has-hitherto-labored/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Joseph Campbell > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-privilege-of-a-lifetime-is-being-who-you-are/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. 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