Bin laden Quote by Richard Dawkins
““As long as we accept the principle that religious faith must be respected simply because it is religious faith, it is hard to withhold respect from the faith of Osama bin Laden and the suicide bombers. The alternative, one so transparent that it should need no urging, is to abandon the principle of automatic respect for religious faith. This is one reason why I do everything in my power to warn people against faith itself, not just against so-called ‘extremist’ faith. The teachings of ‘moderate’ religion, though not extremist in themselves, are an open invitation to extremism.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Richard Dawkins Podcast, 2015
Blind respect for all faiths can unintentionally legitimize extremist ideologies; critical evaluation is essential.
In simple terms: Question faith without blanket respect to avoid endorsing extremism.
Critically assess beliefs, not just faith.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- media discourse
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should guide respect for belief systems?
- How to distinguish extremist teachings from moderate ones?
May dismiss sincere, non-extremist believers.