---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The religion that is afraid of science…"
description: "\"The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png"
---

#  The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and…

![“The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png)

> “The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.”

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Prioritizing faith over empirical evidence disrespects the divine and leads to self-destruction.

**In simple terms:** Fear of science harms belief and self.

Key Takeaway

Respect evidence, honor faith.

Themes

faith science reason

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- academic debate
- religious discourse
- personal belief
- policy making

Key Concepts

epistemology existential risk

Questions to Reflect On

- How can faith embrace scientific inquiry?
- What risks arise when belief rejects evidence?

A Different Perspective

Science and faith can coexist; conflict is not inevitable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dishonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonor/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/)

## Related quotes

> [The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide. . . . Every influx of atheism, of skepticism, is thus made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-dishonors-god-and-commits-2/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Bad theology dishonors God and hurts people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/bad-theology-dishonors-god-and-hurts-people/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [Anything less than your best dishonors God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/anything-less-than-your-best-dishonors-god/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [Bad theology dishonors God and hurts people. Churches that sever the root of truth may flourish for a season, but they will wither eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/bad-theology-dishonors-god-and-hurts-people-churches-that-sever-the/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [The honor that we pay to the Son of God, as well as that which we render to God the Father, consists of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/origen/the-honor-that-we-pay-to-the-son-of-god-as-well-as-that-which-we/)

[Origen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/origen/)

> [The left’s idea of “science” is that we should all be riding bicycles and using the Clivus Multrum composting latrines instead of flush toilets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-left-s-idea-of-science-is-that-we-should-all-be-riding-bicycles/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [Sometimes parents squash students' interests because they are afraid of science or math. So they don't participate. You don't have to know the answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/sometimes-parents-squash-students-interests-because-they-are-afraid/)

[Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/)

> [You shouldn't be afraid of science. Accepting the reality of nature makes life more exciting and even more precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/you-shouldn-t-be-afraid-of-science-accepting-the-reality-of-nature/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [People seem to be afraid of science, and certainly, people seem to be afraid of mathematics. And I think that's such a shame, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hammel/people-seem-to-be-afraid-of-science-and-certainly-people-seem-to-be/)

[Heidi Hammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-hammel/)

> [I was afraid that science-fiction buffs and everybody would say things like, 'You know, there's no sound in outer space.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-was-afraid-that-science-fiction-buffs-and-everybody-would-say/)

[George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/)

> [I have never conceived that having been in public life required me to belie my sentiments, or to conceal them. Opinion and the just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-never-conceived-that-having-been-in-public-life-required-me-to/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [the first quality of an honest man is contempt for religion, which would have us afraid of the most natural thing in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-first-quality-of-an-honest-man-is-contempt-for-religion-which/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [Religion is for those who are afraid of Hell . . . Spirituality is for those of us who have lived through it . . . and survived!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/religion-is-for-those-who-are-afraid-of-hell-spirituality-is-for/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [I grew up with the idea that someone might hate you if they knew what religion you were; being afraid to open my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/i-grew-up-with-the-idea-that-someone-might-hate-you-if-they-knew-what/)

[Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/)

> [“What naive garbage. People don't want freedom anymore--even those to whom freedom is a kind of religion are afraid of it, like trembling acolytes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-willow-wilson/what-naive-garbage-people-don-t-want-freedom-anymore-even-those-to/)

[G. Willow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-willow-wilson/)

## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson

> [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## More Commit quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/)

[Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/)

> [Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-it/)

[Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I like to always wash the slate clean, and reinvigorate my spirit to be connected to the characters that I am doing. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/)

[Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/)

[James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/)

> [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/)

[Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/)

> [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. Only then will his virtue be recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-karnad/a-man-must-commit-a-crime-at-least-once-in-his-life-time-only-then/)

Girish Karnad

> [“A man, who does not commit an evil act either, has no opportunity or the stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/a-man-who-does-not-commit-an-evil-act-either-has-no-opportunity-or/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [One day I may commit to a city and settle down and do the restaurant thing - when I'm ready and however and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-kish/one-day-i-may-commit-to-a-city-and-settle-down-and-do-the-restaurant/)

Kristen Kish

> [Love and commit. Not hit and quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhecky/love-and-commit-not-hit-and-quit/)

[Jhecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhecky/)

Browse all 1,824 Commit quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-dishonors-god-and-commits/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Commit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-dishonors-god-and-commits/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_commit_the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-d_2085489.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The religion that is afraid of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-dishonors-god-and-commits/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-religion-that-is-afraid-of-science-dishonors-god-and-commits/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
