Dogma Quote by Richard Dawkins
““Is is, therefore, not an exaggeration to say that if the city of New York were suddenly replaced by a ball of fire, some significant percentage of the American population would see a silver-lining in the subsequent mushroom cloud, as it would suggest to them that the best thing that is ever going to happen was about to happen: the return of Christ. It should be blindingly obvious that beliefs of this sort will do little to help us create a durable future for ourselves - socially, economically, environmentally, or geopolitically. Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the US government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religion dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Del Delusion, Richard Dawkins, 2006
The quote warns that apocalyptic religious beliefs hinder practical problem‑solving and threaten societal stability.
In simple terms: Religious end‑times thinking blocks constructive action.
Key Takeaway
Question and confront fatalistic beliefs.
Themes
religion
politics
future
society
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public discourse
- education
- community planning
Key Concepts
apocalypticism
cognitive bias
social cohesion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do end‑times narratives affect public policy?
- What alternatives can replace fatalistic worldviews?
A Different Perspective
Such beliefs may motivate some positive change, but overall they risk neglecting concrete solutions.
![“[H]e was damned if he was going to water down his arguments simply to satisfy the preference of the mob for dogma and ignorance.” quote by Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/998/ben-elton-12329_quote_h-e-was-damned-if-he-was-going-to-water_19083.jpg)
