--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word 'religion' has acquired a very…" description: "\"“The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among those who really love truth, justice, charity. It also exhales the musty odor of sanctimony and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/luther-burbank-8576_charity_the-word-religion-has-acquired-a-very-ba_2147412.jpg" --- # The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among… ![“The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among those who really love truth, justice, charity. It also exhales the musty odor of sanctimony and falsehood.” quote by Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/luther-burbank-8576_charity_the-word-religion-has-acquired-a-very-ba_2147412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/luther-burbank-8576_charity_the-word-religion-has-acquired-a-very-ba_2147412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/luther-burbank-8576_charity_the-word-religion-has-acquired-a-very-ba_2147412.jpg) > ““The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among those who really love truth, justice, charity. It also exhales the musty odor of sanctimony and falsehood.”” [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## 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 often mischaracterized by those seeking truth, appearing hypocritical and false **In simple terms:** Religion can be seen as hypocritical Key Takeaway Avoid judging religion without understanding Themes critical thinking truth justice Mood skeptical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - personal relationships - public discourse - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts hypocrisy integrity faith Questions to Reflect On - How can we separate genuine faith from hypocrisy? - What role should truth play in religious practice? A Different Perspective Religious criticism may ignore positive social roles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Odor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odor/) [Odor Sanctimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odor-sanctimony-4499497/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Acquired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-acquired-4499499/) [Sanctimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctimony-163178/) [Sanctimony Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctimony-falsehood-4499498/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-justice/) [Word Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-religion-400410/) ## Related quotes > [Sanctimony and self-regard are as American as smallpox blankets and supersize meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/sanctimony-and-self-regard-are-as-american-as-smallpox-blankets-and/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Sanctimony is the most inexpensive form of morality. It costs us nothing to make much of small matters in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/sanctimony-is-the-most-inexpensive-form-of-morality-it-costs-us/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [Note to reporters: The sanctimony thing probably works better on someone who has never broken real stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-flaherty/note-to-reporters-the-sanctimony-thing-probably-works-better-on/) [Colin Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-flaherty/) > [“I am also concerned not to come off as shrill or preachy when what I really am is more like confused.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-am-also-concerned-not-to-come-off-as-shrill-or-preachy-when-what-i/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“It was badly received by the generation to which it was first addressed, and the outpouring of angry nonsense to which it gave rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/it-was-badly-received-by-the-generation-to-which-it-was-first/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) > [The sanctimony that a section of the media wears like a second skin comes undone so fast when the scrutiny is on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/the-sanctimony-that-a-section-of-the-media-wears-like-a-second-skin/) [Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/) > [“The Guardian's headline is 'How Going Green May Make You Mean.' We're inclined to think the chain of causation runs the other way—that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taranto/the-guardian-s-headline-is-how-going-green-may-make-you-mean-we-re/) [James Taranto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taranto/) > [“As for the sanctimony of people who seem blind to the fact that mass murder is still an annual event, look at Cambodia, Rwanda,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/as-for-the-sanctimony-of-people-who-seem-blind-to-the-fact-that-mass/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“Ultimately, beyond the primordial, brutish labels of man-made institutions, true practical religion of the civilized society must bring oneness. This very process of unification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/ultimately-beyond-the-primordial-brutish-labels-of-man-made/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Religion is about experiencing, not believing; spiritual realities are either personally experienced, or not (yet). The word religion says it very well in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-klingenberg/religion-is-about-experiencing-not-believing-spiritual-realities-are/) [Arne Klingenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-klingenberg/) > [The word 'religion' is only a label. What lies behind that, the most important thing of all, is the word 'faith'. You either have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/the-word-religion-is-only-a-label-what-lies-behind-that-the-most/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [I have already indicated to you the meaning of the word religion, as applied to Islam. The truth is that Islam is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-iqbal/i-have-already-indicated-to-you-the-meaning-of-the-word-religion-as/) [Muhammad Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-iqbal/) > [All too often, the word 'religion' has become identified with those promoting a frankly anti-scientific view of nature and of our place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/all-too-often-the-word-religion-has-become-identified-with-those/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I don't really like the word 'religion.' To me, that's like rules and regulations and paying money to send up prayers. That kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lanter/i-don-t-really-like-the-word-religion-to-me-that-s-like-rules-and/) [Matt Lanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lanter/) > [The word religion comes from an origin which means "coming together." But priesthood has been doing just the opposite, it has created splits in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-word-religion-comes-from-an-origin-which-means-coming-together/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More by Luther Burbank > [If we cannot meet our everyday surroundings with equanimity and pleasure and grow each day in some useful direction, then... life is on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/if-we-cannot-meet-our-everyday-surroundings-with-equanimity-and/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Let us read the Bible without the ill-fitting colored spectacles of theology, just as we read other books, using our judgment and reason. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/let-us-read-the-bible-without-the-ill-fitting-colored-spectacles-of/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Plants are as responsive to thought as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/plants-are-as-responsive-to-thought-as-children/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Science . . . has opened our eyes to the vastness of the universe and given us light, truth and freedom from fear where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/science-has-opened-our-eyes-to-the-vastness-of-the-universe-and-given/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/for-those-who-do-not-think-it-is-best-at-least-to-rearrange-their/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [The greatest happiness in the world is to make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-greatest-happiness-in-the-world-is-to-make-others-happy/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Heredity is nothing but stored environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/heredity-is-nothing-but-stored-environment/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/flowers-always-make-people-better-happier-and-more-helpful-they-are/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Religion grows with the intelligence of man, but all religions of the past and probably all of the future will sooner or later become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/religion-grows-with-the-intelligence-of-man-but-all-religions-of-the/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Justice, love, truth, peace and harmony, a serene unity with science and the laws of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/justice-love-truth-peace-and-harmony-a-serene-unity-with-science-and/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Our lives as we lead them as passed on to others, whether in physical or mental forms, tingeing all future lives together. This should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/our-lives-as-we-lead-them-as-passed-on-to-others-whether-in-physical/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [We must return to nature and nature's god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/we-must-return-to-nature-and-nature-s-god/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [The idea that a good God would send people to a burning hell is utterly damnable to me - the raving of insanity, superstition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-idea-that-a-good-god-would-send-people-to-a-burning-hell-is/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Science is the only savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/science-is-the-only-savior/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [“We must learn that any person who will not accept what he knows to be truth for the very love of truth alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/we-must-learn-that-any-person-who-will-not-accept-what-he-knows-to-be/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) [Explore all 79 Luther Burbank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## More Charity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/considering-community-support-and-cost-benefit-analysis-i-have/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [It's always great to be able to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-s-always-great-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I like to give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-like-to-give-back/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-restore-power-to-the-family-to-the-neighborhood-and-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) [Browse all 2,477 Charity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among those who really love truth, justice, charity. 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