--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this respect fundamentalism has…" description: "\"In this respect fundamentalism has demonic traits. It destroys the humble honesty of the search for truth, it splits the conscience of its thoughtful a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/paul-tillich-3183_conscience_in-this-respect-fundamentalism-has-demon_2529369.jpg" --- # In this respect fundamentalism has demonic traits. It… ![“In this respect fundamentalism has demonic traits. It destroys the humble honesty of the search for truth, it splits the conscience of its thoughtful adherents, and it makes them fanatical because they are forced to suppress elements of truth of which they are dimly aware” quote by Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/paul-tillich-3183_conscience_in-this-respect-fundamentalism-has-demon_2529369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/paul-tillich-3183_conscience_in-this-respect-fundamentalism-has-demon_2529369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/paul-tillich-3183_conscience_in-this-respect-fundamentalism-has-demon_2529369.jpg) > “In this respect fundamentalism has demonic traits. It destroys the humble honesty of the search for truth, it splits the conscience of its thoughtful adherents, and it makes them fanatical because they are forced to suppress elements of truth of which they are dimly aware” [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fundamentalism rigidifies belief, crushing honest inquiry and causing internal conflict, leading to fanatical suppression of partial truths. **In simple terms:** Rigid belief blocks honest search and creates inner conflict. Key Takeaway Question beliefs and seek humility. Themes faith dogmatism psychology truth conflict Mood reflective critical Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - religious debate - academic research - personal reflection - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts existentialism theology cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How does certainty hinder truth? - What can humility restore in belief? A Different Perspective It may overlook the social cohesion some find in firm doctrines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Demonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonic/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Fundamentalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalism/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Search for truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/search-for-truth/) [Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Every institution is inherently demonic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/every-institution-is-inherently-demonic/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [As for the search for truth, I know from my own painful searching, with its many blind alleys, how hard it is to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/as-for-the-search-for-truth-i-know-from-my-own-painful-searching-with/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 1948) in most solemn form, the dignity of a person is acknowledged to all human beings;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/in-the-universal-declaration-of-human-rights-december-1948-in-most/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [Acting is an everlasting search for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/acting-is-an-everlasting-search-for-truth/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [“A successful search for Truth means complete deliverance from the dual throng such as of love and hate, happiness and misery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-successful-search-for-truth-means-complete-deliverance-from-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Before anything else, we need a new age of Enlightenment. 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We can, and should, engage in it to the extent we can and encourage others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-search-for-truth-is-a-cooperative-unending-endeavor-we-can-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More by Paul Tillich > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Faith is the state of being ultimately concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/faith-is-the-state-of-being-ultimately-concerned/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [ \[American\] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/american-conformism-might-approximate-collectivism-not-so-much-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [There is no condition for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-no-condition-for-forgiveness/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [He who risks and fails can be forgiven. 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