---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is perhaps not an enlightened…"
description: "\"There is perhaps not an enlightened Christian in America who, notwithstanding he may believe that, at the time of Jesus, men were possessed of devils, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg"
---

#  There is perhaps not an enlightened Christian in America…

![“There is perhaps not an enlightened Christian in America who, notwithstanding he may believe that, at the time of Jesus, men were possessed of devils, believes that they ever have been in any other instance, either before or since.” quote by Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg)

> “There is perhaps not an enlightened Christian in America who, notwithstanding he may believe that, at the time of Jesus, men were possessed of devils, believes that they ever have been in any other instance, either before or since.”

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote argues that belief in demonic possession was historically limited to biblical times and not applied elsewhere.

**In simple terms:** People once thought only biblical times had demons.

Key Takeaway

Recognize historical context of beliefs.

Themes

history religion beliefs

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical historical

When to use this quote

- religious studies
- historical analysis
- education
- debate

Key Concepts

theology historical criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- How do historical beliefs shape modern faith?
- Can we separate ancient doctrines from contemporary practice?

A Different Perspective

Assumes all Christians share this view; modern readers may misinterpret.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Devils Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devils-believes-4942358/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Enlightened Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-christian-4942359/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-men-2556703/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Possessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-possessed-2286916/) [Possessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessed/) [Possessed Devils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessed-devils-3147835/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Once upon a time men were possessed by devils. Now they are not less obsessed by ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/once-upon-a-time-men-were-possessed-by-devils-now-they-are-not-less/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [There are men who are possessed by an urge so strong to do some particular thing that they can't help themselves, they've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-are-men-who-are-possessed-by-an-urge-so-strong-to-do-some/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [I not only think that they (U.S. leaders) are misguided, but I think they know exactly what they are doing and I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-not-only-think-that-they-u-s-leaders-are-misguided-but-i-think-they/)

[Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/)

> [Your enlightenment depends on the company you keep. You do not know the world until you know the men who have possessed it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/your-enlightenment-depends-on-the-company-you-keep-you-do-not-know/)

[Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/)

> [I have known some men possessed of good qualities which were very serviceable to others, but useless to themselves; like a sun-dial on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-known-some-men-possessed-of-good-qualities-which-were-very/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [“These disciples of Jesus were men who had been led to despair of themselves. At the beginning of their three years of instruction, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/these-disciples-of-jesus-were-men-who-had-been-led-to-despair-of/)

[Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/)

> [The Jesus that men want to see is not the Jesus they really need to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-campbell-morgan/the-jesus-that-men-want-to-see-is-not-the-jesus-they-really-need-to/)

[G. Campbell Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-campbell-morgan/)

> [“Commerce was meant by the goodness of the Deity to diffuse the various goods of the earth into every part, to unite mankind in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-sancho/commerce-was-meant-by-the-goodness-of-the-deity-to-diffuse-the/)

[Ignatius Sancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-sancho/)

> [“My view of Christianity is such, that I think no man can consistently profess it without throwing the whole weight of his being against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/my-view-of-christianity-is-such-that-i-think-no-man-can-consistently/)

[Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/)

> [“Sara fled upstairs as if the devil himself had been after her, leaning, gasping for breath against the thick wooden door that had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-rogers/sara-fled-upstairs-as-if-the-devil-himself-had-been-after-her-leaning/)

[Rosemary Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-rogers/)

> [ I think that they \[Bush Administration\] are men who are possessed of evil. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-think-that-they-bush-administration-are-men-who-are-possessed-of/)

[Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/)

> [It was a ludicrous, insane situation in which modern fighting men, possessed all of the highly destructive engines of war, were ordered to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-ludicrous-insane-situation-in-which-modern-fighting-men/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We need, men so possessed by the Spirit of God that God can think His thoughts through our minds, that He can plan His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-redpath/we-need-men-so-possessed-by-the-spirit-of-god-that-god-can-think-his/)

[Alan Redpath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-redpath/)

> [What I'm trying to tell you is that there are men who are possessed by an urge so strong to do some particular thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/what-i-m-trying-to-tell-you-is-that-there-are-men-who-are-possessed/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

## More by Lysander Spooner

> [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [Those who deny the right of a jury to protect an individual in resisting an unjust law of the government, deny him all defence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/those-who-deny-the-right-of-a-jury-to-protect-an-individual-in/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended. When I was let out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/i-was-put-into-jail-as-i-was-going-to-the-shoemaker-s-to-get-a-shoe/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [The single despot stands out in the face of all men, and says: I am the State: My will is law: I am your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-single-despot-stands-out-in-the-face-of-all-men-and-says-i-am-the/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [The Rothschilds, and that class of money-lenders of whom they are the representatives and agents - men who never think of lending a shilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-rothschilds-and-that-class-of-money-lenders-of-whom-they-are-the/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [Who are ever taxed? Individuals only. Who have property that can be taxed? Individuals only. Who can give their consent to be taxed? Individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/who-are-ever-taxed-individuals-only-who-have-property-that-can-be/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [There can be no criminal intent in resisting injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-can-be-no-criminal-intent-in-resisting-injustice/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [Practically and commercially speaking, a dollar is not necessarily a specific thing, made of silver, or gold, or any other single metal, or substance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/practically-and-commercially-speaking-a-dollar-is-not-necessarily-a/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [If the jury have no right to judge of the justice of a law of the government, they plainly can do nothing to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-the-jury-have-no-right-to-judge-of-the-justice-of-a-law-of-the/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [If it be said that the consent of the strongest party in a nation, is all that is necessary to justify the establishment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-it-be-said-that-the-consent-of-the-strongest-party-in-a-nation-is/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [In reality there is no such thing as an inflation of prices, relatively to gold. There is such a thing as a depreciated paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/in-reality-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-inflation-of-prices/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [And there is no difference, in principle - but only in degree - between political and chattel slavery. The former, no less than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/and-there-is-no-difference-in-principle-but-only-in-degree-between/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [The Constitution has no inherent authority or obligation. It has no authority or obligation at all, unless as a contract between man and man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-constitution-has-no-inherent-authority-or-obligation-it-has-no/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [These so-called governments are in reality only great bands of robbers and murderers, organized, disciplined, and constantly on the alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/these-so-called-governments-are-in-reality-only-great-bands-of/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

[Explore all 135 Lysander Spooner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is perhaps not an enlightened Christian in America who, notwithstanding he may believe that, at the time of Jesus, men were possessed of devils, believes that they ever have been in any other instance, either before or since.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lysander Spooner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-christian-in-america-who/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-christian-in-america-who/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a6/lysander-spooner-3260_america_there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-chri_607936.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is perhaps not an enlightened Christian in America who, notwithstanding he may believe that, at the…” — Lysander Spooner",
                "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": "Lysander Spooner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is perhaps not an enlightened...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-christian-in-america-who/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-is-perhaps-not-an-enlightened-christian-in-america-who/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
