Education Quote by Richard Dawkins
““Fundamentalist religion is hell-bent on ruining the scientific education of countless thousands of innocent, well-meaning, eager young minds. Non-fundamentalist, "sensible" religion may not be doing that. But it is making the world safe for fundamentalism by teaching children, from their earliest years, that unquestioning faith is a virtue.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion, 2006
Fundamentalist religion harms scientific education by promoting unquestioning faith, while even moderate religion can indirectly support fundamentalism by normalizing blind belief.
In simple terms: Fundamentalist religion hurts science; even moderate faith can enable it.
Key Takeaway
Promote critical thinking and secular education.
Themes
science
religion
education
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- public policy
- parenting
- media literacy
Key Concepts
critical thinking
secularism
faith vs reason
Questions to Reflect On
- Can faith be compatible with scientific inquiry?
- What role should religion play in public education?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that religion can coexist with science when interpreted metaphorically.
![“I began to read [Bible] as a critic, an in-house critic. So I got to a place where when I got to the university, I just couldn't reconcile that book and some of its points of view with stuff I was learning in my academic career. And so then you have a choice: either you give up your academic…” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c08/john-shelby-spong-1488_academic_i-began-to-read-bible-as-a-critic-an-in_1438471.jpg)
