Politics Quote by Philip Jenkins
““Though churches may lose political influence under Christian states or in predominantly Christian societies, though they might be secularized, they do not vanish anything like as thoroughly as in the African and Asian examples mentioned. In most of these cases, churches collapsed or vanished because they were unable to cope with the pressures placed upon them by hostile regimes, mainly Muslim. While religions might sicken and fade, they do not die of their own accord: they must be killed.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Myth of Religious Violence by Philip Jenkins, 2019
Religions persist unless actively suppressed; they rarely disappear on their own.
In simple terms: Religions only die when killed.
Key Takeaway
Protect religious freedom.
Themes
religion
politics
culture
conflict
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- interfaith dialogue
- human rights advocacy
- education on religious tolerance
Key Concepts
secularization
state pressure
hostile regimes
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect religious groups from hostile regimes?
- What factors cause a religion to fade without external pressure?
A Different Perspective
Religions can survive even under oppression, but may be weakened.
