--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can find things in the traditional…" description: "\"“You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on, but I mean, the Bible is probably the most ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg" --- # You can find things in the traditional religions which are… ![“You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on, but I mean, the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon. The God of the Bible - not only did He order His chosen people to carry out literal genocide - I mean, wipe…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg) > ““You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on, but I mean, the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon. The God of the Bible - not only did He order His chosen people to carry out literal genocide - I mean, wipe out every Amalekite to the last man, woman, child, and, you know, donkey and so on, because hundreds of years ago they got in your way when you were trying to cross the desert - not only did He do things like that, but, after all, the God of the Bible was ready to destroy every living creature on earth because some humans irritated Him. That's the story of Noah. I mean, that's beyond genocide - you don't know how to describe this creature. Somebody offended Him, and He was going to destroy every living being on earth? And then He was talked into allowing two of each species to stay alive - that's supposed to be gentle and wonderful.”” [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. The quote argues that the Bible contains extreme violent commands and narratives, portraying its deity as capable of mass genocide and universal destruction, contrasting with claims of benevolence. **In simple terms:** The Bible includes stories of mass violence and divine wrath. Key Takeaway Recognize the complexity and darker aspects of religious texts. Themes religion violence interpretation mythology ethics Mood critical thoughtful analytical Type expository critical philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - interfaith dialogue - personal belief - teaching religious studies Key Concepts theology genocide divine justice scriptural criticism Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile violent passages with modern moral standards? - What role should historical context play in interpreting sacred texts? A Different Perspective The quote reflects a particular perspective and may not represent all scholarly views on the Bible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-probably-2566399/) [Genocidal Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genocidal-book-2566397/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literal Genocide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-genocide-2135739/) [Mean Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-bible-2529841/) [Probably Genocidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-genocidal-2566398/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Stay Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-alive/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [“...the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-bible-is-probably-the-most-genocidal-book-in-the-literary-canon/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There was a really monstrous and almost literal genocide in the Mayan area, specifically under Ríos Montt. By now it has been recognized somewhat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-was-a-really-monstrous-and-almost-literal-genocide-in-the-mayan/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“He thinks for a long time, about injustice, cruelty and the almighty dollar. About hypocrisy and power ballads. About ego, ambition and politics. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-niven/he-thinks-for-a-long-time-about-injustice-cruelty-and-the-almighty/) [John Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-niven/) > [The Bible doesn't speak of "women's rights" in the social-political language we're used to hearing today. Still, that doesn't mean the Bible is silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/the-bible-doesn-t-speak-of-women-s-rights-in-the-social-political/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“I can't stop thinking about dying the way humans do it. Imagine! If at any moment, you could just stop existing. How different everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-turgeon/i-can-t-stop-thinking-about-dying-the-way-humans-do-it-imagine-if-at/) [Carolyn Turgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-turgeon/) > [Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/love-is-how-you-stay-alive-even-after-you-are-gone/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“You know what I think?" she says. "That people's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive. Whether those memories have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-know-what-i-think-she-says-that-people-s-memories-are-maybe-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Jules turned off the faucet and the room became silent except for the ticking clock. “Promise me one thing.” She picked up the dishtowel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-abshire/jules-turned-off-the-faucet-and-the-room-became-silent-except-for-the/) [Mary Abshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-abshire/) > [“As long as I keep moving, I should be OK. As long as I keep the notebook with me, I should stay alive. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-goeglein/as-long-as-i-keep-moving-i-should-be-ok-as-long-as-i-keep-the/) [T.M. Goeglein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-goeglein/) > [“But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/but-poetry-romance-love-beauty-these-are-what-we-stay-alive-for/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [Many a man has decided to stay alive not because of the will to live but because of the determination not to give assorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/many-a-man-has-decided-to-stay-alive-not-because-of-the-will-to-live/) [Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/) > [“Just another case of sometimes. Sometimes fates plans are different from your own. Sometimes the beautiful things are right in your reach but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everance-caiser/just-another-case-of-sometimes-sometimes-fates-plans-are-different/) [Everance Caiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everance-caiser/) > [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## 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. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. 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 Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [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/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on, but I mean, the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon. The God of the Bible - not only did He order His chosen people to carry out literal genocide - I mean, wipe out every Amalekite to the last man, woman, child, and, you know, donkey and so on, because hundreds of years ago they got in your way when you were trying to cross the desert - not only did He do things like that, but, after all, the God of the Bible was ready to destroy every living creature on earth because some humans irritated Him. That's the story of Noah. I mean, that's beyond genocide - you don't know how to describe this creature. Somebody offended Him, and He was going to destroy every living being on earth? And then He was talked into allowing two of each species to stay alive - that's supposed to be gentle and wonderful.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-religions-which-are-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-religions-which-are-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/noam-chomsky-42_bible_you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-r_1868987.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on…” — Noam Chomsky", "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": "Noam Chomsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can find things in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-religions-which-are-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-can-find-things-in-the-traditional-religions-which-are-very/#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 } } ] } ```