--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't see how one can \"believe in…" description: "\"I don't see how one can \"believe in organized religion.\" What does it mean to believe in an organization? One can join it, support it, oppose it, accep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/noam-chomsky-42_accepting_i-don-t-see-how-one-can-believe-in-organ_1498905.jpg" --- # I don't see how one can "believe in organized religion."… ![“I don't see how one can "believe in organized religion." What does it mean to believe in an organization? One can join it, support it, oppose it, accept its doctrines or reject them. There are many kinds of organized religion. People associate themselves with some of them, or not, for all sorts of…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/noam-chomsky-42_accepting_i-don-t-see-how-one-can-believe-in-organ_1498905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/noam-chomsky-42_accepting_i-don-t-see-how-one-can-believe-in-organ_1498905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/noam-chomsky-42_accepting_i-don-t-see-how-one-can-believe-in-organ_1498905.jpg) > “I don't see how one can "believe in organized religion." What does it mean to believe in an organization? One can join it, support it, oppose it, accept its doctrines or reject them. There are many kinds of organized religion. People associate themselves with some of them, or not, for all sorts of reasons, maybe belief in some of their doctrines.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Belief in organized religion is questioned by examining what it means to trust an institution versus its doctrines. **In simple terms:** Questioning belief in institutions. Key Takeaway Critically assess institutional faith. Themes faith institution belief skepticism Mood analytical inquisitive Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - academic discourse - personal belief systems - social movements Key Concepts philosophy religion critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Why do people cling to religious institutions? - Can belief be separated from doctrine? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook the emotional and community aspects of religious belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Organized religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [I don't necessarily believe in organized religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-don-t-necessarily-believe-in-organized-religion/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I don't believe in organized religion. I believe that people should try to connect with their own life force and let it lead them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/i-don-t-believe-in-organized-religion-i-believe-that-people-should/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Defining, embedding, and living core beliefs set the stage for executives and employees to connect. Through actions that consistently convey who we are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-renjen/defining-embedding-and-living-core-beliefs-set-the-stage-for/) [Punit Renjen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-renjen/) > [“Heretics must believe. More than anyone else in an organization, it's the person who's challenging the status quo, the one who is daring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/heretics-must-believe-more-than-anyone-else-in-an-organization-it-s/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I cannot mislead people into believing that I support organized religion. In Jesus' name, I cannot be complicit with many of the things organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-cannot-mislead-people-into-believing-that-i-support-organized/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [People who spend their working hours in a lab or research library or a classroom might be intent primarily on keeping or advancing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/people-who-spend-their-working-hours-in-a-lab-or-research-library-or/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [So Marxism, Freudianism: any one of these things I think is an irrational cult. They're theology, so they're whatever you think of theology; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/so-marxism-freudianism-any-one-of-these-things-i-think-is-an/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If a person chooses not to be a writer, or speaker, then (by definition) the person is choosing not to be engaged in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-a-person-chooses-not-to-be-a-writer-or-speaker-then-by-definition/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Concentration of ownership in the media is high and increasing. Furthermore, those who occupy managerial positions in the media, or gain status within them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/concentration-of-ownership-in-the-media-is-high-and-increasing/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [China is the center of the Asian energy security grid, which includes the Central Asian states and Russia. India is also hovering around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/china-is-the-center-of-the-asian-energy-security-grid-which-includes/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Self-Control is the very essence of character. To be able to look a man straight in the eye, calmly and deliberately, without the slightest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/self-control-is-the-very-essence-of-character-to-be-able-to-look-a/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [There comes a time in the spiritual journey when you start making choices from a very different place. And if a choice lines up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-comes-a-time-in-the-spiritual-journey-when-you-start-making/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The spread of democracy is a wonderful thing-it is a necessary foundation for peace-and it can happen. But it cannot be advanced by force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-schell/the-spread-of-democracy-is-a-wonderful-thing-it-is-a-necessary/) [Jonathan Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-schell/) > [The London 'Academy' has seen fit recently to scoff at the critics who have been exercising themselves ove rthe so-called art of the Short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-seidel-canby/the-london-academy-has-seen-fit-recently-to-scoff-at-the-critics-who/) [Henry Seidel Canby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-seidel-canby/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [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/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. 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Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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