--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tragically, some people believe they are…" description: "\"Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks af..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/max-lucado-190_absurd_tragically-some-people-believe-they-are_2990381.jpg" --- # Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven… ![“Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks after their birth. They have no personal faith, have never made a personal decision, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. How absurd.” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/max-lucado-190_absurd_tragically-some-people-believe-they-are_2990381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/max-lucado-190_absurd_tragically-some-people-believe-they-are_2990381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/max-lucado-190_absurd_tragically-some-people-believe-they-are_2990381.jpg) > “Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks after their birth. They have no personal faith, have never made a personal decision, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. How absurd.” [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People rely on rituals without personal faith or choice, assuming salvation. **In simple terms:** Faith requires personal belief, not just ceremony. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal conviction. Themes faith ritual belief skepticism spirituality Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - Religious conversion - morning prayer - life‑changing decisions Key Concepts Existentialism theology personal agency Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust rituals alone? - What does personal faith mean to you? A Different Perspective Ritual alone cannot replace genuine belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Banking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banking/) [Baptism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baptism/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Ceremony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Drop of water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drop-of-water/) [Going Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-heaven/) [Going to heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-heaven/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-die-1943152/) [Hollow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollow/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-believe/) [Personal decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-decisions/) [Personal Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-faith-359045/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [“If you are sure that you're going to heaven when you die, you ought to make the most of today. Why live below God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-zayas/if-you-are-sure-that-you-re-going-to-heaven-when-you-die-you-ought-to/) [Jose Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-zayas/) > [Something larger is happening than just going to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/something-larger-is-happening-than-just-going-to-heaven/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [One day of praying and six days of fun, the odds against going to heaven are six to one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-benton/one-day-of-praying-and-six-days-of-fun-the-odds-against-going-to/) [Brook Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-benton/) > [God brought me to Himself at about the age of 4. My parents were devout believers and my Dad was in Bible College at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/god-brought-me-to-himself-at-about-the-age-of-4-my-parents-were/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [It's like thinking you're going to heaven, but when you get there it turns out to be Cleveland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-s-like-thinking-you-re-going-to-heaven-but-when-you-get-there-it/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [...our concern is more about going to heaven than loving the King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/our-concern-is-more-about-going-to-heaven-than-loving-the-king/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [It often appears that those who talk the most about going to heaven when you die talk the least about bringing heaven to earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/it-often-appears-that-those-who-talk-the-most-about-going-to-heaven/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Many will say, "I can find God without the help of the Bible, or church, or minister." Very well. Do so if you can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/many-will-say-i-can-find-god-without-the-help-of-the-bible-or-church/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A lot of arguments happen among religious and non religious people about the question of who's going to hell and who's going to heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/a-lot-of-arguments-happen-among-religious-and-non-religious-people/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [You are not saved for the sole purpose of going to heaven; you are saved to finish your assignment on earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/you-are-not-saved-for-the-sole-purpose-of-going-to-heaven-you-are/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-never-ever-judge-someone-on-who-s-going-to-heaven-hell-that-s-the/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [There is no hope of anyone going to Heaven unless they believe this truth I am presenting. You cannot go to Heaven unless you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-hope-of-anyone-going-to-heaven-unless-they-believe-this/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ I \[will\] not go to heaven because I am a preacher. I am going to heaven entirely on the merit of the work of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-will-not-go-to-heaven-because-i-am-a-preacher-i-am-going-to-heaven/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [How many people do you know believe they're going to heaven because, they're not trusting so much in Christ as they are the sincerity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/how-many-people-do-you-know-believe-they-re-going-to-heaven-because/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“By salvation I mean not barely according to the vulgar notion deliverance from hell or going to heaven but a present deliverance from sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/by-salvation-i-mean-not-barely-according-to-the-vulgar-notion/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) ## More by Max Lucado > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks after their birth. They have no personal faith, have never made a personal decision, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. 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