--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only religion that still demands…" description: "\"The only religion that still demands human sacrifice is nationalism.\" — Kenneth E. Boulding" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_demand_the-only-religion-that-still-demands-hum_2017972.png" --- # The only religion that still demands human sacrifice is… ![“The only religion that still demands human sacrifice is nationalism.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_demand_the-only-religion-that-still-demands-hum_2017972.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_demand_the-only-religion-that-still-demands-hum_2017972.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_demand_the-only-religion-that-still-demands-hum_2017972.png) > “The only religion that still demands human sacrifice is nationalism.” [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nationalism demands extreme loyalty, akin to religious sacrifice of human life. **In simple terms:** Nationalism can be as demanding as religion. Key Takeaway Question blind allegiance to nation‑states. Themes nationalism religion human sacrifice Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - Political rallies - educational curricula - media narratives - public policy Key Concepts Identity politics collective identity political ideology Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices does nationalism demand? - How to foster inclusive patriotism? A Different Perspective Risk of conflating metaphor with literal practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Human Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-sacrifice-524716/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Demands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-demands-1789813/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrifice Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-nationalism-3639041/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) ## Related quotes > [“They have not forgotten the Mysteries,” she said, “they have found them too difficult. They want a God who will care for them, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/they-have-not-forgotten-the-mysteries-she-said-they-have-found-them-2/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“When religion demands you refrain from doing something otherwise benign, that's just a provocation to do it more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silverman/when-religion-demands-you-refrain-from-doing-something-otherwise/) [David Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silverman/) > [“By design, the Christian religion demands ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/by-design-the-christian-religion-demands-ignorance/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [From time to time I have wished to do more work in philosophy of religion, but the demands and challenges have been such that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kleinig/from-time-to-time-i-have-wished-to-do-more-work-in-philosophy-of/) [John Kleinig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kleinig/) > [The majority of Utah's citizens do not merely approve the death penalty, they demand it - the state religion demands it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-majority-of-utah-s-citizens-do-not-merely-approve-the-death/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [“They have not forgotten the Mysteries,' she said, ‘they have found them too difficult. 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I refuse to join an army which practices human sacrifice and has no adequate pension plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-frost/sorry-no-i-refuse-to-join-an-army-which-practices-human-sacrifice-and/) [Toby Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-frost/) > [“Have you ever wondered how to commit human sacrifice and destroy all the evidence while having a delicious meal all at the same time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heidecker/have-you-ever-wondered-how-to-commit-human-sacrifice-and-destroy-all/) [Tim Heidecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-heidecker/) > [“An Anchorite was a girl who lived like a hermit in a cell, but in the wall of a church. A living human sacrifice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/an-anchorite-was-a-girl-who-lived-like-a-hermit-in-a-cell-but-in-the/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/human-sacrifice-dogs-and-cats-living-together-mass-hysteria/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [“The amount of perfume she had on was like a human sacrifice on Incense Night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moles/the-amount-of-perfume-she-had-on-was-like-a-human-sacrifice-on/) [Stephen Moles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moles/) > [Consider the wave of revulsion that floods the average person when he or she hears of the practice of human sacrifice by the Aztecs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/consider-the-wave-of-revulsion-that-floods-the-average-person-when-he/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## More by Kenneth E. Boulding > [ \[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy\] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-chosen-taxonomy-a-set-of/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [If we saw tomorrow's newspaper today, tomorrow would never happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/if-we-saw-tomorrow-s-newspaper-today-tomorrow-would-never-happen/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [It is clear that the building of models is not a purely mechanical process but requires skill of a high order - not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/it-is-clear-that-the-building-of-models-is-not-a-purely-mechanical/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Even personal tastes are learned, in the matrix of a culture or a subculture in which we grow up, by very much the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/even-personal-tastes-are-learned-in-the-matrix-of-a-culture-or-a/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [In view of the importance of philanthropy in our society, it is surprising that so little attention has been given to it by economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/in-view-of-the-importance-of-philanthropy-in-our-society-it-is/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Humble, honest, ignorance is one of the finest flowers of the human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/humble-honest-ignorance-is-one-of-the-finest-flowers-of-the-human/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [ \[The question for the behavioral disciplines is simply\] what is better, and how do we get there? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-question-for-the-behavioral-disciplines-is-simply-what-is-better/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [ \[Even the mechanism can be endowed with an image. Thus\] the thermostat has an image of the outside world in the shape of information… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/even-the-mechanism-can-be-endowed-with-an-image-thus-the-thermostat/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Economic problems have no sharp edges. They shade off imperceptibly into politics, sociology, and ethics. Indeed, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/economic-problems-have-no-sharp-edges-they-shade-off-imperceptibly/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [The world moves into the future as a result of decisions, not as a result of plans. Plans are significant only insofar as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-result-of-decisions-not-as-a/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Mathematicians themselves set up standards of generality and elegance in their exposition which are a bar to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/mathematicians-themselves-set-up-standards-of-generality-and-elegance/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [The concept of need is often looked upon rather unfavorably by economists, in contrast with the concept of demand. Both, however, have their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-concept-of-need-is-often-looked-upon-rather-unfavorably-by/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Conventions of generality and mathematical elegance may be just as much barriers to the attainment and diffusion of knowledge as may contentment with particularity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/conventions-of-generality-and-mathematical-elegance-may-be-just-as/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Nothing fails like success, because we do not learn anything from it. We only learn from failure, but we do not always learn the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/nothing-fails-like-success-because-we-do-not-learn-anything-from-it/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [At the opposite pole from the gift is tribute - that is, a grant made out of fear and under threat. A threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/at-the-opposite-pole-from-the-gift-is-tribute-that-is-a-grant-made/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) [Explore all 123 Kenneth E. Boulding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) ## More Demand quotes > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [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/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Money should be ones demand and command one should not become slave of money..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/money-should-be-ones-demand-and-command-one-should-not-become-slave/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. 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