--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a broad distinction between…" description: "\"There is a broad distinction between religion and theology. The one is a natural, human experience common to all well-organized minds. The other is a s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg" --- # There is a broad distinction between religion and… ![“There is a broad distinction between religion and theology. The one is a natural, human experience common to all well-organized minds. The other is a system of speculations about the unseen and the unknowable, which the human mind has no power to grasp or explain, and these speculations vary with…” quote by Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg) > “There is a broad distinction between religion and theology. The one is a natural, human experience common to all well-organized minds. The other is a system of speculations about the unseen and the unknowable, which the human mind has no power to grasp or explain, and these speculations vary with every sect, age, and type of civilization. No one knows any more of what lies beyond our sphere of action than thou and I, and we know nothing.” [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes religion as lived experience from theology as speculative doctrine about the unknowable, emphasizing human limits in understanding the divine. **In simple terms:** Religion is experience; theology is speculation about the unknown. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of knowledge and respect diverse beliefs. Themes religion theology human limits knowledge faith Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - academic study of religion - personal reflection on belief - teaching about religious tolerance Key Concepts epistemology metaphysics cultural diversity Questions to Reflect On - How do personal experiences shape your view of religion? - Can theology ever bridge the gap between belief and the unknown? A Different Perspective The distinction may oversimplify the interplay between practice and doctrine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Broads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broads/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Distinction Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction-religion-631997/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Organized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized/) [Organized mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-mind/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-theology-2055142/) [Sects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sects/) [Speculation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speculation/) [Spheres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spheres/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Theology Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology-natural-5684169/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Unseen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unseen/) [Vary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vary/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Let us put theology out of religion. Theology has always sent the worst to heaven, the best to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/let-us-put-theology-out-of-religion-theology-has-always-sent-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Religion is neither a theology nor a theosophy; it is more than that, it is a discipline, a law, a yoke, an indissoluble engagement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/religion-is-neither-a-theology-nor-a-theosophy-it-is-more-than-that/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [I am fascinated in religion and theology and what people believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/i-am-fascinated-in-religion-and-theology-and-what-people-believe/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) > [We are driven to confess that we actually care more for religion than we do for religious theories and ideas: and in merely making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ernest-hocking/we-are-driven-to-confess-that-we-actually-care-more-for-religion-than/) [William Ernest Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ernest-hocking/) > [For me, humanitarian service, or rather service of all that lives, is religion. And I draw no distinction between such religion and politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/for-me-humanitarian-service-or-rather-service-of-all-that-lives-is/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [It is hard for many people today to make the distinction between religion and religiosity, the latter a dangerous parody of the former.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-mccarthy/it-is-hard-for-many-people-today-to-make-the-distinction-between/) [Abigail McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-mccarthy/) > [IRS is very poorly equipped to make a distinction between what is a religion and what is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/irs-is-very-poorly-equipped-to-make-a-distinction-between-what-is-a/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [ An important distinction can be made between religion and spirituality. Religion \[is\] concerned with faith in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/an-important-distinction-can-be-made-between-religion-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-the-well-organized-mind-death-is-but-the-next-great-adventure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most fundamental principle of the organized mind, the one most critical to keeping us from forgetting or losing things, is to shift the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-most-fundamental-principle-of-the-organized-mind-the-one-most/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The direction for my music is heaven, of course. We gear all things to the realm of heaven - which is the mind, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/the-direction-for-my-music-is-heaven-of-course-we-gear-all-things-to/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [The country is laid out in a haphazard, sloppy fashion, offensive to the tidy, organized mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brien/the-country-is-laid-out-in-a-haphazard-sloppy-fashion-offensive-to/) [Alan Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brien/) > [“To the highly organized mind, death is just another adventure. ‘That’s from Harry Potter,’ I said. ‘Dumbledore said it in the first book.’ ‘Trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/to-the-highly-organized-mind-death-is-just-another-adventure-that-s/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [I believe you have to write every day–make the time. It’s about having an organized mind instead of a chaotic and untidy one. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-believe-you-have-to-write-every-day-make-the-time-it-s-about-having/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Part of my job is to help other kids find books, because not everyone has a keenly organized mind. Some kids could wander the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/part-of-my-job-is-to-help-other-kids-find-books-because-not-everyone/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## More by Lucretia Mott > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Woman has so long been subject to the disabilities and restrictions with which her progress has been embarrassed that she has become enervated, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/woman-has-so-long-been-subject-to-the-disabilities-and-restrictions/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I resolved to claim for my sex all that an impartial Creator had bestowed, which, by custom and a perverted application of the Scriptures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/i-resolved-to-claim-for-my-sex-all-that-an-impartial-creator-had/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [The cause of Peace has had my share of efforts, taking the ultra non-resistance ground - that a Christian cannot consistently uphold, and actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-cause-of-peace-has-had-my-share-of-efforts-taking-the-ultra-non/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [the Law has made the man and wife one person, and that one person the husband!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-law-has-made-the-man-and-wife-one-person-and-that-one-person-the/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [In the marriage union, the independence of the husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/in-the-marriage-union-the-independence-of-the-husband-and-wife-will/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Those who go forth ministering to the wants and necessities of their fellow beings experience a rich return, their souls being as a watered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/those-who-go-forth-ministering-to-the-wants-and-necessities-of-their/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [It is not Christianity, but priestcraft that has subjected woman as we find her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/it-is-not-christianity-but-priestcraft-that-has-subjected-woman-as-we/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I have no idea of submitting tamely to injustice inflicted either on me or on the slave. I will oppose it with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/i-have-no-idea-of-submitting-tamely-to-injustice-inflicted-either-on/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ. Were this sentiment generally admitted we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/it-is-time-that-christians-were-judged-more-by-their-likeness-to/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [... my convictions led me to adhere to the sufficiency of the light within us, resting on truth as authority, rather than 'taking authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/my-convictions-led-me-to-adhere-to-the-sufficiency-of-the-light/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of women, the very fountains of life are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Women's property has been taxed, equally with that of men's, to sustain colleges endowed by the states; but they have not been permitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/women-s-property-has-been-taxed-equally-with-that-of-men-s-to-sustain/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Let woman then go on-not asking favors, but claiming as a right the removal of all hindrances to her elevation in the scale of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/let-woman-then-go-on-not-asking-favors-but-claiming-as-a-right-the/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I long for the day my sisters will rise, and occupy the sphere to which they are called by their high nature and destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/i-long-for-the-day-my-sisters-will-rise-and-occupy-the-sphere-to/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) [Explore all 32 Lucretia Mott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a broad distinction between religion and theology. The one is a natural, human experience common to all well-organized minds. The other is a system of speculations about the unseen and the unknowable, which the human mind has no power to grasp or explain, and these speculations vary with every sect, age, and type of civilization. No one knows any more of what lies beyond our sphere of action than thou and I, and we know nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucretia Mott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-religion-and-theology-the-one-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-religion-and-theology-the-one-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/lucretia-mott-19637_action_there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-rel_2344159.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a broad distinction between religion and theology. The one is a natural, human experience common to…” — Lucretia Mott", "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": "Lucretia Mott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a broad distinction between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-religion-and-theology-the-one-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-religion-and-theology-the-one-is/#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 } } ] } ```