--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Syncretism can be disturbing to people…" description: "\"Syncretism can be disturbing to people. They have often been taught, \"You have to have solid faith and must be sure of your religion,\" and so on. They ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/ninian-smart-29892_backlash_syncretism-can-be-disturbing-to-people-t_1000989.jpg" --- # Syncretism can be disturbing to people. They have often… ![“Syncretism can be disturbing to people. They have often been taught, "You have to have solid faith and must be sure of your religion," and so on. They fear that they might be threatened by these new developments and mergings. So you get a backlash against it.” quote by Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/ninian-smart-29892_backlash_syncretism-can-be-disturbing-to-people-t_1000989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/ninian-smart-29892_backlash_syncretism-can-be-disturbing-to-people-t_1000989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/ninian-smart-29892_backlash_syncretism-can-be-disturbing-to-people-t_1000989.jpg) > “Syncretism can be disturbing to people. They have often been taught, "You have to have solid faith and must be sure of your religion," and so on. They fear that they might be threatened by these new developments and mergings. So you get a backlash against it.” [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Syncretism challenges entrenched beliefs, causing backlash when faiths merge. **In simple terms:** Merging beliefs can provoke fear. Key Takeaway Approach religious blending with sensitivity. Themes religion pluralism conflict Mood thoughtful cautious Type academic reflective When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - education reform - community building - personal belief exploration Key Concepts sociology theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you react to mixed religious ideas? - What benefits can syncretism bring? A Different Perspective Some may view blending as dilution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“The postmodern notion of "appropriation" is not a good fit. 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But the accusation of 'cultural appropriation' is overwhelmingly being used as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bari-weiss/few-of-us-doubt-that-stealing-is-wrong-especially-from-the-poor-but/) [Bari Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bari-weiss/) > [“The average Christian believes in the monotheist God, but also in the dualist Devil, in polytheist saints, and in animist ghosts. Scholars of religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-average-christian-believes-in-the-monotheist-god-but-also-in-the/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/religion-is-the-fear-of-god-and-its-demonstration-good-works-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Religion has nothing more to fear than not being sufficiently understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/religion-has-nothing-more-to-fear-than-not-being-sufficiently/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [“If you neither believe in religion nor fear the hereafter , then atleast be free from Tyranny and Arrogance".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imam-hussain/if-you-neither-believe-in-religion-nor-fear-the-hereafter-then/) Imam hussain > [What indicates a person’s weak religion and fear of God, is that he seeks for an opinion that suits his desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/what-indicates-a-person-s-weak-religion-and-fear-of-god-is-that-he/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [“Religion comforts us for the defeat of our will to power. It adds new worlds to ours, and thus brings us hope of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/religion-comforts-us-for-the-defeat-of-our-will-to-power-it-adds-new/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [I'm an atheist. I suppose you can call me a sort of libertarian anarchist. I regard religion with fear and suspicion. It's not enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-m-an-atheist-i-suppose-you-can-call-me-a-sort-of-libertarian/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [“It is not alone the first beginnings of religion that are full of fear. So long as love is imperfect, there is room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/it-is-not-alone-the-first-beginnings-of-religion-that-are-full-of/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Many people are afraid to embrace religion, for fear they shall not succeed in maintaining it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/many-people-are-afraid-to-embrace-religion-for-fear-they-shall-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“The development from a religion of fear to moral religion is a great step in peoples' lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-development-from-a-religion-of-fear-to-moral-religion-is-a-great/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Undoubtedly the most important source of religion is fear; this can be seen in the present day, since anything that causes alarm is apt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/undoubtedly-the-most-important-source-of-religion-is-fear-this-can-be/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Superstitions, and especially the early cultivation of religion, with its "fear of the Lord" and of unknown mysterious agencies, are especially potent in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/superstitions-and-especially-the-early-cultivation-of-religion-with/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) ## More by Ninian Smart > [I think the Buddhist ethic is clearer and more systematic in some ways. The Buddhist notion is that our chief problems are greed, hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-think-the-buddhist-ethic-is-clearer-and-more-systematic-in-some/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [Buddhism and Christianity are incompatible because there is no God in Buddhism - particularly in Theravada Buddhism. But they are also allies because their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/buddhism-and-christianity-are-incompatible-because-there-is-no-god-in/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [I often say that I'm a Buddhist-Episcopalian. I say that partly to annoy people.I like to annoy people who think that a religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-often-say-that-i-m-a-buddhist-episcopalian-i-say-that-partly-to/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [Life is very difficult and we owe it to our fellow human beings to be as cheerful as we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/life-is-very-difficult-and-we-owe-it-to-our-fellow-human-beings-to-be/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [One of the effects of religions getting together is that they borrow from one another. An example is the growing number of Catholics who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/one-of-the-effects-of-religions-getting-together-is-that-they-borrow/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [I've often admired the way many Catholics who have left the priesthood, for example, have nevertheless remained sincere Catholics. They voted with their feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-ve-often-admired-the-way-many-catholics-who-have-left-the/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [A central feature of the ceremonial associated with Mithras was the taurobolium, the ritual slaughter of a bull which commemorated and repeated Mithras' primeval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/a-central-feature-of-the-ceremonial-associated-with-mithras-was-the/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [People now have their own particular religion - a denomination of one. I suppose it's a part of the new age phenomenon, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/people-now-have-their-own-particular-religion-a-denomination-of-one-i/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [Children become more liberal partly as a reaction to their parents and partly through education. Education tends to make people a bit softer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/children-become-more-liberal-partly-as-a-reaction-to-their-parents/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [I don't regard fundamentalism in the United States or in Europe as a terrible threat, partly because it is a self-curing disease. The younger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-don-t-regard-fundamentalism-in-the-united-states-or-in-europe-as-a/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [I would like to see an agreement that recognizes that we live on the same planet and that some interests, such as human rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-would-like-to-see-an-agreement-that-recognizes-that-we-live-on-the/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [I don't think religions will merge into a great global faith. But I do believe we're moving toward a global ideology that has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-don-t-think-religions-will-merge-into-a-great-global-faith-but-i-do/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [Tolerance has been a very important feature of Christianity from its very roots, despite all the other things that have gone on since. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/tolerance-has-been-a-very-important-feature-of-christianity-from-its/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [The fact of the matter is that Buddhism has changed a lot. When St. Francis of Xavier arrived in Japan, he wrote back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-buddhism-has-changed-a-lot-when-st/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [If you were going to be attracted to a mystical faith which involved the contemplative life, Buddhism would be quite reasonable. But then, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/if-you-were-going-to-be-attracted-to-a-mystical-faith-which-involved/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) [Explore all 18 Ninian Smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) ## More Backlash quotes > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I'm the one who will take chances, not worry about the backlash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-m-the-one-who-will-take-chances-not-worry-about-the-backlash/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Yes, I do realize that men in sports media also face criticism and backlash, but the vitriol that is directed at women, especially women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/yes-i-do-realize-that-men-in-sports-media-also-face-criticism-and/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love. Or you can start speaking up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/you-can-be-the-outcast-or-be-the-backlash-of-somebody-s-lack-of-love/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Just days after Mitt Romney suggested he might run for president, there's been a backlash. The backlash is led by Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/just-days-after-mitt-romney-suggested-he-might-run-for-president/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Israel must never be expected to jeopardize her security: if she was ever foolish enough to do so, and then suffered for it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/israel-must-never-be-expected-to-jeopardize-her-security-if-she-was/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [In specific terms I don't think I could make any suggestions, but in general terms I believe that it is because Canadians have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/in-specific-terms-i-don-t-think-i-could-make-any-suggestions-but-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [God save the Queen and a fascist regime … a flabby toothless fascism, to be sure. Never go too far in any direction, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/god-save-the-queen-and-a-fascist-regime-a-flabby-toothless-fascism-to/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [Part of the challenge of the Barack Obama campaign was to try to neutralize that white backlash, and of course, he was masterful in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/part-of-the-challenge-of-the-barack-obama-campaign-was-to-try-to/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [There's a backlash against womyn that's really bad right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/there-s-a-backlash-against-womyn-that-s-really-bad-right-now/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [Of course there's a backlash. Of course. Look, half the country voted for Donald Trump. But I think one of the things that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/of-course-there-s-a-backlash-of-course-look-half-the-country-voted/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I get so much backlash in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-nash/i-get-so-much-backlash-in-hollywood/) [Jason Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-nash/) > [Every time a militant Islamist terrorist shoots somebody up, what does Barack Obama do and the Democrats? They come out and they demand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/every-time-a-militant-islamist-terrorist-shoots-somebody-up-what-does/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“We seem to be in a continuing feedback loop of repeating a past that our country has yet to address. Our history is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/we-seem-to-be-in-a-continuing-feedback-loop-of-repeating-a-past-that/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) Browse all 161 Backlash quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Syncretism can be disturbing to people. They have often been taught, \"You have to have solid faith and must be sure of your religion,\" and so on. They fear that they might be threatened by these new developments and mergings. 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