--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of secular, modern people claim to…" description: "\"A lot of secular, modern people claim to be disillusioned whenever they learn that any smart person is religious. That's applicable to Newton as it is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/neal-stephenson-362_claims_a-lot-of-secular-modern-people-claim-to_1250233.png" --- # A lot of secular, modern people claim to be disillusioned… ![“A lot of secular, modern people claim to be disillusioned whenever they learn that any smart person is religious. That's applicable to Newton as it is to any other religious smart person” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/neal-stephenson-362_claims_a-lot-of-secular-modern-people-claim-to_1250233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/neal-stephenson-362_claims_a-lot-of-secular-modern-people-claim-to_1250233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/neal-stephenson-362_claims_a-lot-of-secular-modern-people-claim-to_1250233.png) > “A lot of secular, modern people claim to be disillusioned whenever they learn that any smart person is religious. That's applicable to Newton as it is to any other religious smart person” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often feel surprised or skeptical when they discover that intelligent individuals hold religious beliefs, assuming intelligence and faith are incompatible. **In simple terms:** Intelligent people can be religious, challenging stereotypes. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect diverse belief systems among experts. Themes religion intelligence stereotypes open‑mindedness Mood thoughtful curious reflective Type analytical philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic conferences - interfaith dialogues - science education - media interviews - personal conversations Key Concepts cognitive bias identity faith andacademia public perception media narratives Questions to Reflect On - How do personal experiences shape one's view on faith and reason? - Can belief and expertise coexist without conflict? A Different Perspective Some may argue that scientific rigor conflicts with faith, but many reconcile both. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Disillusioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disillusioned/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newton/) [Newton Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newton-religious-3938062/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-smart-3938061/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-person/) ## Related quotes > [One of the great sadnesses of modern life, because of our disenfranchisement and disillusionment with religion, is that we don't have access to these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/one-of-the-great-sadnesses-of-modern-life-because-of-our/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“Talent was not rare; the ability to survive having it was. (Enoch Root observes six-year-old Isaac Newton)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/talent-was-not-rare-the-ability-to-survive-having-it-was-enoch-root/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Space and Time! Two minor omissions that no one is likely to notice," grumbled Newton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/space-and-time-two-minor-omissions-that-no-one-is-likely-to-notice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I was trying to run something to ground that had come to my attention when I was working on the Baroque Cycle. That series,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-was-trying-to-run-something-to-ground-that-had-come-to-my-attention/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“a smart person will think first for the outcome of he's decision before doing the first step”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rojade-silva/a-smart-person-will-think-first-for-the-outcome-of-he-s-decision/) [rojade silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rojade-silva/) > [A smart person will give you smart answers, but a wise person will ask you smart questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varsha-sharma/a-smart-person-will-give-you-smart-answers-but-a-wise-person-will-ask/) [Varsha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varsha-sharma/) > [ There's also the idea in this country \[USA\], it's not wholly new, but it's new in its kind of purity, in that you have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/there-s-also-the-idea-in-this-country-usa-it-s-not-wholly-new-but-it/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“Many mistakes makes for a very smart person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/many-mistakes-makes-for-a-very-smart-person/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Without theater, I don't think I would have thought I was a smart person or excelled at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/without-theater-i-don-t-think-i-would-have-thought-i-was-a-smart/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [Nothing makes me happier than to have a smart person tell me why the show is smart, especially if I didn't intend that. 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Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. 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But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. 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