--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So my students sometimes say: “Everything…" description: "\"“So my students sometimes say: “Everything you teach about religion you seem to like. You always say such positive things about Islam and such positive..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg" --- # So my students sometimes say: “Everything you teach about… ![“So my students sometimes say: “Everything you teach about religion you seem to like. You always say such positive things about Islam and such positive things about Judaism and Hinduism, which one do you believe?” And I say: “Which one do you think God believes?” [laughter] What the students say is…” quote by Mark Juergensmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg) > ““So my students sometimes say: “Everything you teach about religion you seem to like. You always say such positive things about Islam and such positive things about Judaism and Hinduism, which one do you believe?” And I say: “Which one do you think God believes?” \[laughter\] What the students say is true. I like all religions and I think religion is a natural expression of the higher aspirations of humanity just as it all too often is also an expression of the despotic and most base aspects of humanity.”” [Mark Juergensmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-juergensmeyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religions reflect both humanity’s highest ideals and its darkest impulses, showing a dual nature of spiritual expression. **In simple terms:** Religions show both good and bad sides of humanity. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance the positive and negative aspects of faith. Themes religion human nature pluralism Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - education - community building - policy making Key Concepts spirituality ethics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between uplifting and harmful religious expressions? - What role should critical thinking play in religious education? A Different Perspective Religions can be used to justify oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hinduism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hinduism/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Like Religions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-religions-987001/) [Mark-juergensmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark-juergensmeyer-117927/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-natural-810322/) [Religions Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religions-think-313969/) [Teach Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-religion-1735072/) [Think Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-religion-426807/) ## Related quotes > [“When I came back I joined a black church in Oakland and that made me feel more at home, a bit like being connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/when-i-came-back-i-joined-a-black-church-in-oakland-and-that-made-me/) [Mark Juergensmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-juergensmeyer/) > [Language. By this we build pyramids, fight battles, ordain and administer laws, shape and teach religion, and knit man to man, cultivate each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sterling/language-by-this-we-build-pyramids-fight-battles-ordain-and/) [John Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sterling/) > [I confess that there is nothing to teach: no religion, no science, no writings which will lead your mind back to Spirit. Today I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/i-confess-that-there-is-nothing-to-teach-no-religion-no-science-no/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The second reason to abandon environmental religion is more pressing. Religions think they know it all, but the unhappy truth of the environment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-second-reason-to-abandon-environmental-religion-is-more-pressing/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Secular thinkers have a separation between thinking and doing. They don't have a grasp of the balance sheet. The doers are selling us potted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/secular-thinkers-have-a-separation-between-thinking-and-doing-they/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“A small puddle will reflect the moon in its own way and the big ocean will reflect it in its own way. Then there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-small-puddle-will-reflect-the-moon-in-its-own-way-and-the-big-ocean/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I call religion a natural authority, but it has usually been conceived as a supernatural authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/i-call-religion-a-natural-authority-but-it-has-usually-been-conceived/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [Religion and natural science are fighting a joint battle in an incessant, never-relaxing crusade against skepticism and dogmatism, against disbelief and against superstition, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/religion-and-natural-science-are-fighting-a-joint-battle-in-an-2/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [Religion is the natural reaction of the imagination when confronted by the difficulties in a truculent world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/religion-is-the-natural-reaction-of-the-imagination-when-confronted/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Religion is a valid inquiry; whether society accepts it or rejects it, it doesn't matter. Man is a religious animal and is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/religion-is-a-valid-inquiry-whether-society-accepts-it-or-rejects-it/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Most of the founding fathers, sympathetic with and influenced by the European Enlightenment, saw religion - natural religion, that is - as a potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-gaustad/most-of-the-founding-fathers-sympathetic-with-and-influenced-by-the/) [Edwin Gaustad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-gaustad/) > [“The primary religion of mankind arises chiefly from an anxious fear of future events; and what ideas will naturally be entertained of invisible, unknown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-primary-religion-of-mankind-arises-chiefly-from-an-anxious-fear/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Both religion and natural science require a belief in God for their activities, to the former He is the starting point, and to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/both-religion-and-natural-science-require-a-belief-in-god-for-their/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [“Religion and natural science are fighting a joint battle in an incessant, never relaxing crusade against skepticism and against dogmatism, against unbelief and superstition...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/religion-and-natural-science-are-fighting-a-joint-battle-in-an/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [I am a Muslim and . . . my religion makes me be against all forms of racism. It keeps me from judging any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-am-a-muslim-and-my-religion-makes-me-be-against-all-forms-of-racism-2/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Mark Juergensmeyer > [“But there was one occasion when we went down to a village to set up our feeding kitchens and I noticed there was another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/but-there-was-one-occasion-when-we-went-down-to-a-village-to-set-up/) [Mark Juergensmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-juergensmeyer/) > [“When I came back I joined a black church in Oakland and that made me feel more at home, a bit like being connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/when-i-came-back-i-joined-a-black-church-in-oakland-and-that-made-me/) [Mark Juergensmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-juergensmeyer/) [Explore all 3 Mark Juergensmeyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-juergensmeyer/) ## More Hinduism quotes > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As our domestic fowls are said to have their original in the wild pheasant of India, so our domestic thoughts have their prototypes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-our-domestic-fowls-are-said-to-have-their-original-in-the-wild/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Never praise oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagwan-swaminarayan/never-praise-oneself/) [Bhagwan Swaminarayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagwan-swaminarayan/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Realized souls in the Hindu tradition are called rishis, but realized souls are not confined to the Hindu tradition. Seekers across geographical and religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-bijlani/realized-souls-in-the-hindu-tradition-are-called-rishis-but-realized/) [Ramesh Bijlani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-bijlani/) > [KARMAS a bitch it will get you time and time again so fuck off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everyone-knowthis/karmas-a-bitch-it-will-get-you-time-and-time-again-so-fuck-off/) [EveryOne Knowthis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everyone-knowthis/) > [“For even if the greatest sinner worships me with all his soul, he must be considered righteous, because of his righteous will. And he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-even-if-the-greatest-sinner-worships-me-with-all-his-soul-he-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [The interesting part of my spiritual life is studying as much as you can. Islam and Buddhism and Hinduism and Shamanism and Judaism, Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldie-hawn/the-interesting-part-of-my-spiritual-life-is-studying-as-much-as-you/) [Goldie Hawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldie-hawn/) > [We've always seen ourselves as Indian. We've never seen ourselves as Hindus or Muslims or Christians or Buddhists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/we-ve-always-seen-ourselves-as-indian-we-ve-never-seen-ourselves-as/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [Hinduism... gave itself no name, because it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/hinduism-gave-itself-no-name-because-it-set-itself-no-sectarian/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Hinduism is not just a faith. It is the union of reason and intuition that can not be defined but is only to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/hinduism-is-not-just-a-faith-it-is-the-union-of-reason-and-intuition/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [ Before \[Hindus and Moslems\] dare think of freedom, they must be brave enough to love one another, to tolerate one another's religion, even prejudices… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/before-hindus-and-moslems-dare-think-of-freedom-they-must-be-brave/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The followers of Derrida are pathetic, snuffling in French pockets for bits of pieces of a deconstructive method already massively and coherently presented and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-followers-of-derrida-are-pathetic-snuffling-in-french-pockets-for/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) [Browse all 1,187 Hinduism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hinduism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So my students sometimes say: “Everything you teach about religion you seem to like. You always say such positive things about Islam and such positive things about Judaism and Hinduism, which one do you believe?” And I say: “Which one do you think God believes?” [laughter] What the students say is true. I like all religions and I think religion is a natural expression of the higher aspirations of humanity just as it all too often is also an expression of the despotic and most base aspects of humanity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Juergensmeyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything-you-teach-about-religion-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hinduism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything-you-teach-about-religion-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/mark-juergensmeyer-87061_hinduism_so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything_1765853.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So my students sometimes say: “Everything you teach about religion you seem to like. You always say such…” — Mark Juergensmeyer", "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": "Mark Juergensmeyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-juergensmeyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So my students sometimes say: “Everything...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything-you-teach-about-religion-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-juergensmeyer/so-my-students-sometimes-say-everything-you-teach-about-religion-you/#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 } } ] } ```