--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion isn’t about believing things…" description: "\"Religion isn’t about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/karen-armstrong-1053_alchemy_religion-isn-t-about-believing-things-it_2150072.jpg" --- # Religion isn’t about believing things. It's ethical… ![“Religion isn’t about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.” quote by Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/karen-armstrong-1053_alchemy_religion-isn-t-about-believing-things-it_2150072.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/karen-armstrong-1053_alchemy_religion-isn-t-about-believing-things-it_2150072.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/karen-armstrong-1053_alchemy_religion-isn-t-about-believing-things-it_2150072.jpg) > “Religion isn’t about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.” [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. Religion is presented as a practice that transforms character, not merely a set of doctrines to accept. **In simple terms:** Religion changes you through ethical actions. Key Takeaway Focus on ethical behavior to experience sacredness. Themes ethics transformation spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - community service - mindful rituals Key Concepts alchemy holiness intimations Questions to Reflect On - How does ethical practice shape personal identity? - Can rituals be sacred without belief? A Different Perspective Religion may still be used to justify harmful ideologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alchemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing/) [Believing Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-things-365397/) [Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Isn Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-believing-2540453/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-isn-1081265/) [Sacredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacredness/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in holiness and sacredness in other people. It doesn't mean that the clouds part and I see God. That's a juvenile way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-believe-in-holiness-and-sacredness-in-other-people-it-doesn-t-mean/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Seeing, contrary to popular wisdom, isn't believing. It's where belief stops, because it isn't needed any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/seeing-contrary-to-popular-wisdom-isn-t-believing-it-s-where-belief/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [To me, a strong sense of self isn't believing in a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/to-me-a-strong-sense-of-self-isn-t-believing-in-a-lot/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [“If the sky isn't really blue, then seeing isn't believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-quinn/if-the-sky-isn-t-really-blue-then-seeing-isn-t-believing/) [A.C. Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-quinn/) > [“Knowing isn't always believing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/knowing-isn-t-always-believing/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“A far cicada rings high and clear over the river’s heavy wash. Morning glory, a lone dandelion, cassia, orchids. So far from the nearest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/a-far-cicada-rings-high-and-clear-over-the-river-s-heavy-wash-morning/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [“In his first summers, forsaking all his toys, my son would stand rapt for nearly an hour in his sandbox in the orchard, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/in-his-first-summers-forsaking-all-his-toys-my-son-would-stand-rapt/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [The thing I worry about with religion isn't to do much with forgetting Christmas. It's to do with religion being angry and violent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/the-thing-i-worry-about-with-religion-isn-t-to-do-much-with/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [Religion isn't yours firsthand until you doubt it right down to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bowes-sayre-sr/religion-isn-t-yours-firsthand-until-you-doubt-it-right-down-to-the/) [Francis Bowes Sayre, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bowes-sayre-sr/) > [Comparing science and religion isn't like comparing apples and oranges - it's more like apples and sewing machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-horner/comparing-science-and-religion-isn-t-like-comparing-apples-and/) [Jack Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-horner/) > [Religion isn't in your DNA. you don't believe just because your parents believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/religion-isn-t-in-your-dna-you-don-t-believe-just-because-your/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/religion-isn-t-the-cause-of-wars-it-s-the-excuse/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The most important part of religion isn't in any church. It's down in your own heart. Religion is in your thoughts, and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/the-most-important-part-of-religion-isn-t-in-any-church-it-s-down-in/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [I believe the world of the spirit is in general greatly neglected and not at all served by the practice of faith as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-delaney/i-believe-the-world-of-the-spirit-is-in-general-greatly-neglected-and/) [Frank Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-delaney/) > [“Religion isn't the opium of the people, it's the hypocrisy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ngel-s-ez-guti-rrez-marino/religion-isn-t-the-opium-of-the-people-it-s-the-hypocrisy/) [Miguel Ángel Sáez Gutiérrez «Marino»](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ngel-s-ez-guti-rrez-marino/) ## More by Karen Armstrong > [If it is written and read with serious attention, a novel, like a myth or any great work of art, can become an initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-it-is-written-and-read-with-serious-attention-a-novel-like-a-myth/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [A gentleman is not born but crafted. He had to work on himself in the same way as a sculptor shaped a rough stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-gentleman-is-not-born-but-crafted-he-had-to-work-on-himself-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I was a lousy nun. I couldn't do it. I couldn't find God. It wasn't suitable for me. It is suitable for very few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-was-a-lousy-nun-i-couldn-t-do-it-i-couldn-t-find-god-it-wasn-t/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I have become convinced, through my studies, that the only way to achieve a safe, just and viable world is to live by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-have-become-convinced-through-my-studies-that-the-only-way-to/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [In the past some of the most influential Jewish, Christian and Muslim theologians, such as Maimonides, Aquinas and Ibn Sina, made it clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/in-the-past-some-of-the-most-influential-jewish-christian-and-muslim/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [The great task of our time is to build a global society, where people can live together in peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/the-great-task-of-our-time-is-to-build-a-global-society-where-people/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [If we don't manage to implement the Golden Rule globally, so that we treat all peoples, wherever and whoever they may be, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-we-don-t-manage-to-implement-the-golden-rule-globally-so-that-we/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [After I left the convent, for 15 years I was worn out with religion, I wanted nothing whatever to do with it. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/after-i-left-the-convent-for-15-years-i-was-worn-out-with-religion-i/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“As we have seen, so many of the things we once took for granted have proved unreliable that we may have to “forget” old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/as-we-have-seen-so-many-of-the-things-we-once-took-for-granted-have/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Yet a personal God can become a grave liability. He can be a mere idol carved in our own image, a projection of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/yet-a-personal-god-can-become-a-grave-liability-he-can-be-a-mere-idol/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“I discovered that I felt at home and alive in the silence, which compelled me to enter my interior world and around there. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-discovered-that-i-felt-at-home-and-alive-in-the-silence-which/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Each of the world religions has its own particular genius, its own special insight into the nature and requirements of compassion, and has something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/each-of-the-world-religions-has-its-own-particular-genius-its-own/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“all rightly guided religion that submitted wholly to God, refused to worship man-made deities and preached that justice and equality came from the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/all-rightly-guided-religion-that-submitted-wholly-to-god-refused-to/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“advocates of evolutionary theory since Thomas H. Huxley (1825–95) have found altruism problematic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/advocates-of-evolutionary-theory-since-thomas-h-huxley-1825-95-have/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) [Explore all 296 Karen Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) ## More Alchemy quotes > [“I went because I was interested in the alchemy of issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-went-because-i-was-interested-in-the-alchemy-of-issues/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“...the world is only the visible aspect of God. And that what alchemy does is to bring spiritual perfection into contact with the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-is-only-the-visible-aspect-of-god-and-that-what-alchemy/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Art is Alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-nicolai/art-is-alchemy/) [ELLE NICOLAI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-nicolai/) > [“You must learn to bend to open windows, my friend. That is why artists and dancers are closest to God. They clench their chests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-must-learn-to-bend-to-open-windows-my-friend-that-is-why-artists/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Every human being has gone through a tragedy of sorts. And the idea is that you have two paths you can take, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/every-human-being-has-gone-through-a-tragedy-of-sorts-and-the-idea-is/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“Introspection does not need to be a still life. It can be an active alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-does-not-need-to-be-a-still-life-it-can-be-an-active/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [“She pushed the book towards them, and Harry and Ron read: The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/she-pushed-the-book-towards-them-and-harry-and-ron-read-the-ancient/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [For I am every dead thing In whom love wrought new alchemy For his art did express A quintessence even from nothingness, From dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/for-i-am-every-dead-thing-in-whom-love-wrought-new-alchemy-for-his/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Arya Maloney updates the basis and practice of transpersonal psychology by using the spiritual principles of India's masters and the transformational alchemy inherent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-mindell/arya-maloney-updates-the-basis-and-practice-of-transpersonal/) [Arnold Mindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-mindell/) > [“To follow our bliss and dive deeply into the mysteries of fragrance, color, and taste; blend with the magnificent diversity of mother nature; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prana-gogia/to-follow-our-bliss-and-dive-deeply-into-the-mysteries-of-fragrance/) [Prana Gogia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prana-gogia/) > [ I want to explain the new alchemy \[in the "From Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to a New Vision of Mind and Time"\], which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/i-want-to-explain-the-new-alchemy-in-the-from-earth-air-fire-and/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [We swung over the hills and over the town and back again, and I saw how a man can be master of a craft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/we-swung-over-the-hills-and-over-the-town-and-back-again-and-i-saw/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We find that alchemy has to do with magicians or magic and may even have roots in the Chaldean people who lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/we-find-that-alchemy-has-to-do-with-magicians-or-magic-and-may-even/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) [Browse all 349 Alchemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religion isn’t about believing things. 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