--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some religions believe that there's a…" description: "\"Some religions believe that there's a hierarchy, that you don't have a connection, but you must go through the shaman or the priest or whoever the reli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/richard-bach-424_believe_some-religions-believe-that-there-s-a-hi_1743115.png" --- # Some religions believe that there's a hierarchy, that you… ![“Some religions believe that there's a hierarchy, that you don't have a connection, but you must go through the shaman or the priest or whoever the religious leader is. And that's what surprises me, that some people who find a huge value in these kinds of systems also seem to enjoy ILLUSIONS. I…” quote by Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/richard-bach-424_believe_some-religions-believe-that-there-s-a-hi_1743115.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/richard-bach-424_believe_some-religions-believe-that-there-s-a-hi_1743115.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/richard-bach-424_believe_some-religions-believe-that-there-s-a-hi_1743115.png) > “Some religions believe that there's a hierarchy, that you don't have a connection, but you must go through the shaman or the priest or whoever the religious leader is. And that's what surprises me, that some people who find a huge value in these kinds of systems also seem to enjoy ILLUSIONS. I can't figure it out.” [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## 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 critiques the hierarchical structure of organized religion, suggesting it creates distance and reliance on intermediaries, yet people still find value and illusion in such systems. **In simple terms:** Hierarchies in religion separate believers from direct experience, yet people still cling to them. Key Takeaway Question the need for mediators in spiritual practice. Themes spirituality religion hierarchy illusion human behavior Mood contemplative critical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal meditation - community worship - seeking meaning - religious rituals Key Concepts Mediated experience faith psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek direct connection versus mediated guidance? - What role do rituals play in personal belief? A Different Perspective Some may argue hierarchy provides structure and guidance, which can be comforting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusions/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-leaders/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [A neurotic can neither enjoy his illusions nor give them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/a-neurotic-can-neither-enjoy-his-illusions-nor-give-them-up/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“We can believe in hierarchy. We can believe the universe was made just for us. Hierarchy and a major sense of entitlement are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-r-sunstein/we-can-believe-in-hierarchy-we-can-believe-the-universe-was-made-just/) [Cass R. Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-r-sunstein/) > [My religion encompasses all religions. I believe in God, I believe in the universe. I believe you are god, I believe I am god;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/my-religion-encompasses-all-religions-i-believe-in-god-i-believe-in/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-am-an-agnostic-even-though-i-respect-and-am-interested-in-all/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [“There have been thousands of different religions through time. And the followers of each of these religions believe that their founders received the divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/there-have-been-thousands-of-different-religions-through-time-and-the/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [“...religions that believe they have a lock on divine wisdom and a reserved seat in the VIP section of the hereafter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rysa-walker/religions-that-believe-they-have-a-lock-on-divine-wisdom-and-a/) [Rysa Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rysa-walker/) > [“ABC," one woman offered. "Assure, Believe, Convert." "Correct," Langdon said. "Religions assure salvation; religions believe in a perecise theology; and religions convert nonbelievers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/abc-one-woman-offered-assure-believe-convert-correct-langdon-said/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I'm a religious man. I am Jewish but I believe in all religions. I believe in God and see him as an old man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-geller/i-m-a-religious-man-i-am-jewish-but-i-believe-in-all-religions-i/) [Uri Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-geller/) > [I admit that sometimes I pick on Religions. I do believe there is a need for Religion for some but also a need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-admit-that-sometimes-i-pick-on-religions-i-do-believe-there-is-a/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Most cultures believe, and most religions believe, that there is a spirit, there is a soul, there is something that happens when we die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gates/most-cultures-believe-and-most-religions-believe-that-there-is-a/) [Josh Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gates/) > [Not just Christians and Jews, but also Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and the followers of many other religions believe in values like peace, respect, tolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcee-hastings/not-just-christians-and-jews-but-also-muslims-buddhists-hindus-and/) [Alcee Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcee-hastings/) > [When religion becomes artificial, art has a duty to rescue it. Art can show that the symbols which religions would have us believe literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/when-religion-becomes-artificial-art-has-a-duty-to-rescue-it-art-can/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [“You know, I don't believe that religions are religions. No, I believe they are philosophies with some good ideas and some fuckin' weird ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-know-i-don-t-believe-that-religions-are-religions-no-i-believe/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [But certainly in Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa, people don't really talk about sex and certainly religious leaders - some of them - up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/but-certainly-in-uganda-mozambique-and-south-africa-people-don-t/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [God's dream still remains unfulfilled. It was not fulfilled 2,000 years ago, or in the home of any religious leader or any American home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/god-s-dream-still-remains-unfulfilled-it-was-not-fulfilled-2-000/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) ## More by Richard Bach > [“Heaven is not a place, and it's not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/heaven-is-not-a-place-and-it-s-not-a-time-heaven-is-being-perfect/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [You'd chosen to be an upright biped on the surface of a small planet of a minor sun on the edge of a minor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/you-d-chosen-to-be-an-upright-biped-on-the-surface-of-a-small-planet/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Your harshest truths are dreams, and your gentlest dreams are true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/your-harshest-truths-are-dreams-and-your-gentlest-dreams-are-true/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“Happiness is a choice. 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Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-best-way-to-pay-for-a-lovely-moment-is-to-enjoy-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/i-am-tired-of-clinging-though-i-cannot-see-it-with-my-eyes-i-trust/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The space for what you want is already filled with what you settled for instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-space-for-what-you-want-is-already-filled-with-what-you-settled/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Part of us is always the observer, and no matter what, it observes. It watches us. It does not care if we are happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/part-of-us-is-always-the-observer-and-no-matter-what-it-observes-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Kindle Singles is publishing on skates. It prints like lightning; our book meets readers in hours. I've spent so many years waiting for publishers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/kindle-singles-is-publishing-on-skates-it-prints-like-lightning-our/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Explore all 539 Richard Bach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some religions believe that there's a hierarchy, that you don't have a connection, but you must go through the shaman or the priest or whoever the religious leader is. And that's what surprises me, that some people who find a huge value in these kinds of systems also seem to enjoy ILLUSIONS. 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