---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is people who are violent, rather than…"
description: "\"It is people who are violent, rather than \"religions\"; and since we secularised our politics we have had two major world wars, the Holocaust, the Sovie..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/karen-armstrong-1053_accepting_it-is-people-who-are-violent-rather-than_1286619.jpg"
---

#  It is people who are violent, rather than "religions"; and…

![“It is people who are violent, rather than &quot;religions&quot;; and since we secularised our politics we have had two major world wars, the Holocaust, the Soviet Gulag, and the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - none of which were inspired by religion. If we want to understand the dangers of our…” quote by Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/karen-armstrong-1053_accepting_it-is-people-who-are-violent-rather-than_1286619.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/karen-armstrong-1053_accepting_it-is-people-who-are-violent-rather-than_1286619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/karen-armstrong-1053_accepting_it-is-people-who-are-violent-rather-than_1286619.jpg)

> “It is people who are violent, rather than "religions"; and since we secularised our politics we have had two major world wars, the Holocaust, the Soviet Gulag, and the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - none of which were inspired by religion. If we want to understand the dangers of our world, we can no longer accept the old received ideas.”

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Violence stems from human actions, not religions; secular politics have led to major wars and atrocities, showing the need to reject outdated ideas.

**In simple terms:** Violence is human, not religious; old ideas must be questioned.

Key Takeaway

Question inherited beliefs and seek humane solutions.

Themes

violence politics history

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- education
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

sociology ethics religion

Questions to Reflect On

- What assumptions about religion influence your view?
- How can societies prevent violence?

A Different Perspective

Complex causes beyond religion exist.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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