--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [I]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing…" description: "\"“[I]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing, consequently is nothing, … without a certain state of mind, without faith, then in faith alone lies its realit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg" --- # \[I\]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing, consequently is… ![“[I]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing, consequently is nothing, … without a certain state of mind, without faith, then in faith alone lies its reality; the entire event goes forward in the feelings alone. … [I]t produces devout sentiments because it is itself a devout idea. … [H]ere also the…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg) > ““\[I\]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing, consequently is nothing, … without a certain state of mind, without faith, then in faith alone lies its reality; the entire event goes forward in the feelings alone. … \[I\]t produces devout sentiments because it is itself a devout idea. … \[H\]ere also the religious subject is acted on by himself as if by another being, through the conception of an imaginary object. Therefore the process of the Lord's Supper can quite well, … without any church ceremony, be accomplished in the imagination.”” [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feuerbach argues that the Lord's Supper is a mental act of faith, not dependent on external rites, and can be experienced fully in imagination. **In simple terms:** Faith alone makes the ritual meaningful, even without ceremony. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner belief rather than relying on external forms. Themes faith inner experience religious practice Mood contemplative introspective Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - spiritual practice - theological study Key Concepts imagination subjective reality Questions to Reflect On - Can personal faith replace communal worship? - What role does imagination play in religious experience? A Different Perspective External rituals may still hold communal value for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conception Imaginary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception-imaginary-3649467/) [Devout Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devout-sentiments-3649469/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Lord Supper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-supper-281030/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Supper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supper/) [Supper Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supper-effects-3649468/) ## Related quotes > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“Let’s not overlook that eating the Lord’s Supper with God’s people is a kind of preaching that is also meant to feed the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/let-s-not-overlook-that-eating-the-lord-s-supper-with-god-s-people-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [If a friend is the one who summons us to our best, then is not Jesus Christ our best friend, and should we not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/if-a-friend-is-the-one-who-summons-us-to-our-best-then-is-not-jesus/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [The purpose of the Lord's Supper is to receive from Christ the nourishment and strength and hope and joy that come from feasting our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-purpose-of-the-lord-s-supper-is-to-receive-from-christ-the/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The Lord's Supper has been greatly instrumental in keeping His cause alive. It is the voice of all believers preaching the Lord's death till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-deems/the-lord-s-supper-has-been-greatly-instrumental-in-keeping-his-cause/) [Charles Deems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-deems/) > [No doubt a man may be saved, like the penitent thief, without having received the Lord's Supper. It is not a matter of absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/no-doubt-a-man-may-be-saved-like-the-penitent-thief-without-having/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The Lord's supper is memorative, and so it has the nature and use of a pledge or token of love, left by a dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/the-lord-s-supper-is-memorative-and-so-it-has-the-nature-and-use-of-a/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [“Sometimes silences are pregnant and sometimes not. It is hard to know what to make of the silence of much of the New Testament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/sometimes-silences-are-pregnant-and-sometimes-not-it-is-hard-to-know/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [“Is the Lord’s Supper only for Christians? Whenever I ask this question I immediately remember the character of those that partook of the Last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/is-the-lord-s-supper-only-for-christians-whenever-i-ask-this-question/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [Surely there is a fitness in the institution of the Lord's Supper as a standing memorial by which the church at large may commemorate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morley-punshon/surely-there-is-a-fitness-in-the-institution-of-the-lord-s-supper-as/) [William Morley Punshon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morley-punshon/) > [“Who should serve the Lord’s Supper? Well in the early church, considering Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 11, the host of the home presumably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/who-should-serve-the-lord-s-supper-well-in-the-early-church/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [“When Christians try to celebrate the Lord's Supper as anything besides a fellowship of believers, it's a sign that their faith and their church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-mims/when-christians-try-to-celebrate-the-lord-s-supper-as-anything/) [Gene Mims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-mims/) > [Adventures make one late for supper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/adventures-make-one-late-for-supper/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Before the world was made, when it was only darkness and mist and waters, God was well aware of Lake Wobegon, my family, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/before-the-world-was-made-when-it-was-only-darkness-and-mist-and/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/traveling-is-all-very-well-if-you-can-get-home-at-night-i-would-be/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) ## More by Ludwig Feuerbach > [“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national-existence-the-law-of-the/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“Religion annexes to its doctrines a curse and a blessing … Blessed is he that believeth, cursed is he that believeth not. Thus it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/religion-annexes-to-its-doctrines-a-curse-and-a-blessing-blessed-is/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [While Socrates empties the cup of poison with unshaken soul,Christ exclaims,'If it is possible, let this cup pass from me'.Christ in this respect is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/while-socrates-empties-the-cup-of-poison-with-unshaken-soul-christ/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [Is it man that possesses love, or is it not much rather love that possesses man?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/is-it-man-that-possesses-love-or-is-it-not-much-rather-love-that/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“Because of … this concentration of all that is universal and real in one personal being, God is a deeply moving object, enrapturing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/because-of-this-concentration-of-all-that-is-universal-and-real-in/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“The salvation of the soul is the fundamental idea, the main point in Christianity; … this salvation lies only in God … But God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/the-salvation-of-the-soul-is-the-fundamental-idea-the-main-point-in/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > ["Can any good come out of Nazareth?" This is always the question of the wiseacres and the knowing ones. But the good, the new,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/can-any-good-come-out-of-nazareth-this-is-always-the-question-of-the/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [ “\[T\]o think God is therefore to affirm what God is, to establish the being of God as an act. That God is thought, cognised,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/t-o-think-god-is-therefore-to-affirm-what-god-is-to-establish-the/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“The essence of faith … is the idea that that which man wishes actually is: he wishes to be immortal, therefore he is immortal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/the-essence-of-faith-is-the-idea-that-that-which-man-wishes-actually/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [ “\[H\]eavenly personality, or the perpetuation of human personality in heaven is nothing else than personality released from all earthly encumbrances and limitations\[.\] \[H\]ere we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/h-eavenly-personality-or-the-perpetuation-of-human-personality-in/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“In Christianity … morality is even made the criterion of piety; but ethics have nevertheless a subordinate rank, they have not in themselves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/in-christianity-morality-is-even-made-the-criterion-of-piety-but/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [ “\[A\]lthough the deeds opposed to love which mark Christian religious history, are in accordance with Christianity, and its antagonists are therefore right in imputing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/a-lthough-the-deeds-opposed-to-love-which-mark-christian-religious/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“The heavenly life is no other than that which is, already here below, distinguished from the merely natural life … That which the Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/the-heavenly-life-is-no-other-than-that-which-is-already-here-below/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [ “\[T\]he religious expression is: Man is the image of God, or a being akin to God; - for according to religion man does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/t-he-religious-expression-is-man-is-the-image-of-god-or-a-being-akin/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [It is not as in the Bible, that God created man in his own image. But, on the contrary, man created God in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/it-is-not-as-in-the-bible-that-god-created-man-in-his-own-image-but/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) [Explore all 129 Ludwig Feuerbach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) [Matt Morris (1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-morris-1/) > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[I]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing, consequently is nothing, … without a certain state of mind, without faith, then in faith alone lies its reality; the entire event goes forward in the feelings alone. … [I]t produces devout sentiments because it is itself a devout idea. … [H]ere also the religious subject is acted on by himself as if by another being, through the conception of an imaginary object. Therefore the process of the Lord's Supper can quite well, … without any church ceremony, be accomplished in the imagination.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ludwig Feuerbach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-consequently-is-nothing-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-consequently-is-nothing-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_faith_i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-co_2829797.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[I]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing, consequently is nothing, … without a certain state of mind, without…” — Ludwig Feuerbach", "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": "Ludwig Feuerbach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“[I]f the Lord's Supper effects nothing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-consequently-is-nothing-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/i-f-the-lord-s-supper-effects-nothing-consequently-is-nothing-without/#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 } } ] } ```