--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had a Judeo-Christian ethic hanging…" description: "\"We had a Judeo-Christian ethic hanging around a couple thousand years that didn't help erase racism at all. So the notion of the little half-hour comed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/norman-lear-7597_christian_we-had-a-judeo-christian-ethic-hanging-a_2422602.png" --- # We had a Judeo-Christian ethic hanging around a couple… ![“We had a Judeo-Christian ethic hanging around a couple thousand years that didn't help erase racism at all. So the notion of the little half-hour comedy changing things is something I think is silly.” quote by Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/norman-lear-7597_christian_we-had-a-judeo-christian-ethic-hanging-a_2422602.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/norman-lear-7597_christian_we-had-a-judeo-christian-ethic-hanging-a_2422602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/norman-lear-7597_christian_we-had-a-judeo-christian-ethic-hanging-a_2422602.png) > “We had a Judeo-Christian ethic hanging around a couple thousand years that didn't help erase racism at all. So the notion of the little half-hour comedy changing things is something I think is silly.” [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A skeptical view that brief comedic efforts cannot dismantle deep‑rooted racism inherited from centuries of religious ethics. **In simple terms:** Comedy alone can’t erase long‑standing racism. Key Takeaway Combine humor with systemic change for real progress. Themes racism social change humor history Mood critical serious Type analytical activist When to use this quote - policy reform - education programs - media campaigns - community dialogue Key Concepts cultural inertia systemic bias activism Questions to Reflect On - What deeper actions are needed beyond jokes? - How can humor support, not replace, activism? A Different Perspective Humor may trivialize serious issues if not paired with action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Changing Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-things/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-ethics/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-changing-553330/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Erase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erase/) [Erase Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erase-racism-1170795/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Half hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-hours/) [Hanging around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanging-around/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Judeo Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judeo-christian/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racism Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism-notion-3157426/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [We now live in a 'post-Christian' America . The Judeo-Christian ethic no longer guides our social institutions. Christian ideals and values no longer dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cox/we-now-live-in-a-post-christian-america-the-judeo-christian-ethic-no/) [Harvey Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cox/) > [The core of racism is the notion that the individual is meaningless and that membership in the collective - the race - is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schwartz/the-core-of-racism-is-the-notion-that-the-individual-is-meaningless/) [Peter Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schwartz/) > [It is ridiculous to think we can erase racism in South Africa, but through theater there can be a genuine attempt to move on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/it-is-ridiculous-to-think-we-can-erase-racism-in-south-africa-but/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I, for one, would think both about how far we have come as a country and how much further we need to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-for-one-would-think-both-about-how-far-we-have-come-as-a-country/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not possible to erase racism just because African-Americans have reached a level of financial success and crossover appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-gray/it-is-not-possible-to-erase-racism-just-because-african-americans/) [Farrah Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-gray/) > [As I get older, I don't think the world is becoming that funny. Comedy is changing a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/as-i-get-older-i-don-t-think-the-world-is-becoming-that-funny-comedy/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [Comedy is changing. The appetite for more diverse stories is getting bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/comedy-is-changing-the-appetite-for-more-diverse-stories-is-getting/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [To me, the script is a living, breathing organism. Comedy is something that is ever-changing and ever-flowing with the vibe and the mood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/to-me-the-script-is-a-living-breathing-organism-comedy-is-something/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [ I was very keen to work on the script with Scott Derrickson and \[C. Robert\] Cargill, and working out the important story beats, changing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-was-very-keen-to-work-on-the-script-with-scott-derrickson-and-c/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [The Christian ethic did not raise the worth of female life much above the Jewish: nor did the clinical ethic raise it much above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/the-christian-ethic-did-not-raise-the-worth-of-female-life-much-above/) [Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/) > [“Thus posed, the problem of unbrotherliness can oppose socialism, which uses and abuses the word bortherhood while rejecting fatherhood. Socialism has no opponent. Religions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fedorov-n-f/thus-posed-the-problem-of-unbrotherliness-can-oppose-socialism-which/) [Fedorov N.f](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fedorov-n-f/) > [One would like to believe that people who think of themselves as devout Christians would also behave in a manner that is in according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-john-neuhaus/one-would-like-to-believe-that-people-who-think-of-themselves-as/) [Richard John Neuhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-john-neuhaus/) > [According to our Christian ethics, we're supposed to love God, love each other and help take care of the poor. It is immoral to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-riley/according-to-our-christian-ethics-we-re-supposed-to-love-god-love/) [Bob Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-riley/) > [“Historically, all ethics undoubtedly begin with religion; but I do not now deal with historical questions. I do not ask who was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-r-popper/historically-all-ethics-undoubtedly-begin-with-religion-but-i-do-not/) [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) > [Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/christian-liberty-is-freedom-from-sin-not-freedom-to-sin/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## More by Norman Lear > [When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/when-we-went-on-the-air-i-didn-t-want-to-be-interrupted-for-an-act/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In this nation, leadership is dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-this-nation-leadership-is-dollars/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't change people's minds, but you can get them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/maybe-they-continued-to-agree-with-archie-bunker-as-i-said-earlier/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think if you're feeling great about where you are, everything that led up to it had to be terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-if-you-re-feeling-great-about-where-you-are-everything-that/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of films on the side. You may see some more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/life-goes-on-pretty-much-the-same-way-i-ve-been-working-on-a-couple/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [If there is a reason to believe in God, it would be the Havana Leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/if-there-is-a-reason-to-believe-in-god-it-would-be-the-havana-leaf/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In my 90-plus years, I have lived a multitude of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-my-90-plus-years-i-have-lived-a-multitude-of-lives/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [America is a country of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/america-is-a-country-of-excess/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [We just may be the most well-informed, yet least self-aware, people in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/we-just-may-be-the-most-well-informed-yet-least-self-aware-people-in/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The people responsible for the dollars that will buy the sex and violence so many deplore, don't even know what's going - well, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-people-responsible-for-the-dollars-that-will-buy-the-sex-and/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [... For all our alarm, it is clear that the religious right is responding to a real hunger in our society... a deep-seated yearning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/for-all-our-alarm-it-is-clear-that-the-religious-right-is-responding/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The movies had a slogan at the time, to distinguish themselves from TV, that said 'movies are better than ever.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-movies-had-a-slogan-at-the-time-to-distinguish-themselves-from-tv/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think Americans have become a - much more a nation of consumers than citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-americans-have-become-a-much-more-a-nation-of-consumers-than/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [My dad called me meat head dead from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/my-dad-called-me-meat-head-dead-from-the-neck-up/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) [Explore all 89 Norman Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. 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I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We had a Judeo-Christian ethic hanging around a couple thousand years that didn't help erase racism at all. 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