--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We not only do not believe that man is…" description: "\"“We not only do not believe that man is punished for his 'sins,' but emphatically state that there is no such thing as sin. There are wrongs and injust..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg" --- # We not only do not believe that man is punished for his… ![“We not only do not believe that man is punished for his 'sins,' but emphatically state that there is no such thing as sin. There are wrongs and injustices, but no sin. Sin, like purgatory and hell, was invented by priests, first to frighten, and then to rob the living. We do not fear these myths…” quote by Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg) > ““We not only do not believe that man is punished for his 'sins,' but emphatically state that there is no such thing as sin. There are wrongs and injustices, but no sin. Sin, like purgatory and hell, was invented by priests, first to frighten, and then to rob the living. We do not fear these myths and curses, and that is why we devote our time and energies to help our fellow man. That is why we build educational institutions and seek, by a slow and painful process, to teach man the true nature of the universe and a proper understanding of his place as a member in society. At the same time we try to fortify his mind with courage to withstand the rebuffs, the trials and tribulations of life. That it is a difficult and arduous task no one can deny because we cannot correct all of 'God's mistakes' in one life time. As Ingersoll so succinctly states: 'Nature cannot pardon.' Remember this: You are not a depraved human being. You have no sins to atone for. There is no need for fear. There are no ghosts—holy or otherwise. Stop making yourself miserable for 'the love of God.' Drive this monster of tyrannic fear from your mind, and enjoy the inestimable freedom of an emancipated human being.”” [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sin is a human invention; fear of divine punishment is unnecessary; focus on human progress and courage. **In simple terms:** Sin is a myth; fear limits freedom. Key Takeaway Embrace freedom from fear and myth. Themes atheism freedom humanism education courage Mood provocative motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - social activism - education reform - mental health Key Concepts existentialism morality psychology social critique Questions to Reflect On - What would replace sin in guiding behavior? - How does fear shape your choices? A Different Perspective Some may argue moral frameworks need concepts of sin. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Curses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curses/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational-institutions/) [Emancipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-god/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Purgatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purgatory/) [Robert-g-ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Robert-green-ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Robert-ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-ingersoll/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trials and tribulations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials-and-tribulations/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) ## Related quotes > [“ Could I but acquaint the world with Robert G. Ingersoll 's humanity, with his ideas and his sentiments of love, patience and understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/could-i-but-acquaint-the-world-with-robert-g-ingersoll-s-humanity/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“I remember on one of my many visits with Thomas A. Edison , I brought up the question of Ingersoll . I asked this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/i-remember-on-one-of-my-many-visits-with-thomas-a-edison-i-brought-up/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“When I visited George Bernard Shaw , in 1948, at his home in Aylot, a suburb of London, he was extremely anxious for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/when-i-visited-george-bernard-shaw-in-1948-at-his-home-in-aylot-a/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“No institution of learning of Ingersoll 's day had courage enough to confer upon him an honorary degree; not only for his own intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/no-institution-of-learning-of-ingersoll-s-day-had-courage-enough-to/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“As long as there is one person suffering an injustice; as long as one person is forced to bear an unnecessary sorrow; as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/as-long-as-there-is-one-person-suffering-an-injustice-as-long-as-one/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“ Ingersoll could not understand the mind of those who, once having been told the truth, preferred to remain under the spell of superstition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/ingersoll-could-not-understand-the-mind-of-those-who-once-having-been/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“Except for my daughters, I have not grieved for any death as I have grieved for his . His was a great and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/except-for-my-daughters-i-have-not-grieved-for-any-death-as-i-have/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“{Debbs' letter to Robert Ingersoll 's granddaughter} I was the friend of your immortal grandfather and I loved him truly… the name of Ingersoll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-victor-debs/debbs-letter-to-robert-ingersoll-s-granddaughter-i-was-the-friend-of/) Eugene Victor Debs > [“The future historian will rank him as one of the heroes of the nineteenth century. {Stanton's opinion of the great Robert Ingersoll }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-future-historian-will-rank-him-as-one-of-the-heroes-of-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“{ Letter from Fawcett to the great Robert Ingersoll , 1894 } I do so wish, that, in all these big questions, literary men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-fawcett/letter-from-fawcett-to-the-great-robert-ingersoll-1894-i-do-so-wish/) Edgar Fawcett > [“In the campaign of 1876, Robert G. Ingersoll came to Madison to speak. I had heard of him for years; when I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-la-follette/in-the-campaign-of-1876-robert-g-ingersoll-came-to-madison-to-speak-i/) Robert M. La Follette > [“{Letter from Debbs to Eva Ingersoll, husband of Robert Ingersoll , just after the news of Robert's death} We were inexpressibly shocked to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/letter-from-debbs-to-eva-ingersoll-husband-of-robert-ingersoll-just/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“ Robert G. Ingersoll was a great man. a wonderful intellect, a great soul of matchless courage, one of the great men of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/robert-g-ingersoll-was-a-great-man-a-wonderful-intellect-a-great-soul/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen. {Darrow on the great Robert Ingersoll }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-of-the-bravest-grandest-champions-of-human-liberty-the-world-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“America doesn't know today how proud she ought to be of her Ingersoll .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/america-doesn-t-know-today-how-proud-she-ought-to-be-of-her-ingersoll/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## More by Joseph Lewis > [“Unless death is made a lesson for the living, the life lived is wasted. Why should life come into existence only to be destroyed?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/unless-death-is-made-a-lesson-for-the-living-the-life-lived-is-wasted/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“When Dr. James Young Simpson sought to apply anesthesia to a woman in childbirth, the clergymen of his day foamed at the mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/when-dr-james-young-simpson-sought-to-apply-anesthesia-to-a-woman-in/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“If you do not want to stop the wheels of progress; if you do not want to go back to the Dark Ages; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/if-you-do-not-want-to-stop-the-wheels-of-progress-if-you-do-not-want/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [Superstition is the poison of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/superstition-is-the-poison-of-the-mind/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“The history of man proves that religion perverts man's concept of life and the universe, and has made him a cringing coward before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/the-history-of-man-proves-that-religion-perverts-man-s-concept-of/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“It is now established by verifiable evidence that religion stultifies the brain and is the great obstacle in the path of intellectual progress. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/it-is-now-established-by-verifiable-evidence-that-religion-stultifies/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“It is inconceivable that any form of intelligence would waste so much time and effort to make such an inferior piece of life—with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/it-is-inconceivable-that-any-form-of-intelligence-would-waste-so-much/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“The Biblical writers not only had no knowledge of these things, but they had a perverted concept of life and the universe. Their concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/the-biblical-writers-not-only-had-no-knowledge-of-these-things-but/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“Many ask what difference does it make whether man believes in a God or not. It makes a big difference. It makes all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/many-ask-what-difference-does-it-make-whether-man-believes-in-a-god/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“It was because 'in 1776 our fathers retired the gods from politics.' The basic principle of the American Republic is the freedom of man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/it-was-because-in-1776-our-fathers-retired-the-gods-from-politics-the/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“It is because of the Biblical curse on man's search for knowledge, which has so paralyzed his mind during the past ages, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/it-is-because-of-the-biblical-curse-on-man-s-search-for-knowledge/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“And what hypocrisy it is on the part of our Government to have the Bible in our courts of law for the culprit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/and-what-hypocrisy-it-is-on-the-part-of-our-government-to-have-the/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“ Ingersoll could not understand the mind of those who, once having been told the truth, preferred to remain under the spell of superstition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/ingersoll-could-not-understand-the-mind-of-those-who-once-having-been/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“If you do not want to stop the wheels of progress; if you do not want to go back to the Dark Ages; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/if-you-do-not-want-to-stop-the-wheels-of-progress-if-you-do-not-want-2/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“As long as there is one person suffering an injustice; as long as one person is forced to bear an unnecessary sorrow; as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/as-long-as-there-is-one-person-suffering-an-injustice-as-long-as-one/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) [Explore all 30 Joseph Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We not only do not believe that man is punished for his 'sins,' but emphatically state that there is no such thing as sin. There are wrongs and injustices, but no sin. Sin, like purgatory and hell, was invented by priests, first to frighten, and then to rob the living. We do not fear these myths and curses, and that is why we devote our time and energies to help our fellow man. That is why we build educational institutions and seek, by a slow and painful process, to teach man the true nature of the universe and a proper understanding of his place as a member in society. At the same time we try to fortify his mind with courage to withstand the rebuffs, the trials and tribulations of life. That it is a difficult and arduous task no one can deny because we cannot correct all of 'God's mistakes' in one life time. As Ingersoll so succinctly states: 'Nature cannot pardon.' Remember this: You are not a depraved human being. You have no sins to atone for. There is no need for fear. There are no ghosts—holy or otherwise. Stop making yourself miserable for 'the love of God.' Drive this monster of tyrannic fear from your mind, and enjoy the inestimable freedom of an emancipated human being.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-punished-for-his-sins-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-punished-for-his-sins-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/joseph-lewis-20519_belief_we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-p_1579879.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We not only do not believe that man is punished for his 'sins,' but emphatically state that there is no such…” — Joseph Lewis", "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": "Joseph Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We not only do not believe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-punished-for-his-sins-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/we-not-only-do-not-believe-that-man-is-punished-for-his-sins-but/#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 } } ] } ```